US Envoy For Coalition Against Daesh Arrives İn Cairo

The U.S. presidential envoy for the coalition against Daesh arrived in Cairo Sunday on his second visit to Egypt since he assumed the post last year, diplomatic sources have said.



General John Allen is expected to meet later in the day with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, according to a statement by the ministry.



The Egyptian authorities have not revealed further details regarding the itinerary of the visit, which is expected to last for two days.



In a Friday statement, U.S. State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said that – along with Shoukry –Allen will be meeting with the leadership of the Arab League to discuss the coalition's efforts in eliminating Daesh.



Allen was appointed special presidential envoy for the global coalition to counter Daesh by President Barack Obama in September of last year.



He last visited Egypt in October 2014, during which he met with Shoukry and Arab League Secretary-General Nabil al-Arabi to discuss means of combating Daesh.



Meanwhile, diplomatic sources also noted that U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller has arrived in Cairo Sunday morning on a two-day visit.



Daesh overran vast swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq last year, prompting the U.S. and its allies to launch an air campaign against the militant group.



Since August 2014, the U.S. has been leading a coalition of over 60 countries against Daesh, carrying out airstrikes on targets belonging to the militant group in Iraq and Syria.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Kahire