Brett H. McGurk

It is not the first time U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition To Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) Brett McGurk raised eyebrows in Turkey.

The rift between Turkey and its biggest military ally the U.S. is continuing over two major issues. One is the ongoing activities of Fethullah Gülen, the U.S.-resident Islamist preacher accused of being behind the military coup attempt of July 15, 2016.

Turkey’s scapegoating of US special envoy Brett McGurk over the military partnership between the United States and the Syrian Kurds grew crazier today, with one pro-government newspaper labeling him a murderer.

United States Secretary of State Rex Tilllerson praised efforts by U.S. Ambassador to Ankara John Bass on Aug. 1 for his efforts in bilateral relations between Ankara and Washington, despite a bitter ongoing dispute over "terrorism support." 

Turkish Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın on July 31 criticized statements by U.S. anti-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) coalition envoy Brett McGurk that linked Turkey to terror groups operating in northwestern Syria.        

Turkey and the U.S., Ankara's biggest ally in the Western defense organization NATO, are embroiled in a new row over the Syrian civil war and are publically accusing each other of helping terrorists.

Ankara and Washington have been engaged in a fresh debate over terrorism support, after a top U.S. official claimed there was a link between Turkey and the presence of al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in Syria's Idlib.

Turkey has condemned remarks by Brett McGurk, U.S. special envoy for the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), who claimed there was a link between Turkey and the presence of Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in Syria's Idlib province. 

Russia has said it is willing to deploy monitors to prevent any violations of a ceasefire in southwestern Syria by Syrian government forces, a senior U.S. official has said.

Brett McGurk, the Special Envoy of the U.S. President for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), arrived in Ankara on June 30 after carrying out inspections in the north of Syria on June 28-29.