Obama names Brett McGurk as New Envoy to Anti-IS Coalition

Washington, Oct 24: US President Barack Obama has named White House advisor on Iraq Brett McGurk as his new special envoy to the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State (IS) terror group, the media reported.

Starting next month, McGurk will substitute retired General John Allen, who has been Obama’s special envoy to the coalition since September 2014, EFE news reported.

In a statement issued on Friday from the White House, Obama noted that Allen “has met that challenge with tremendous ability and courage”.

“American leadership of this coalition is making the world a safer place, and we have been fortunate to have a great patriot like John Allen leading our efforts,” the president said.

Obama also expressed his “profound gratitude” to Allen, for whom he wished a “well-earned retirement from government service” after a long career that included almost 38 years in the US Marines in such areas as the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Among other posts, Allen was head of NATO troops in Afghanistan between 2011-13, and during the Iraq war he served as deputy commander in Anbar province, where he played an important part in strengthening relations with the Sunni tribes.