US anti-ISIL chief: 'US can't succeed without Turkey'

President Barack Obama's special envoy to the global counter-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) coalition stressed Turkey's important role in the fight against ISIL, stating it was impossible for the United States to "succeed without Turkey," during a White House press briefing on Feb. 23.

"We have to work on this closely together. We can't succeed in this without Turkey," U.S. Envoy Brett McGurk said in response to a remarks questioning Turkey's role in the cessation of hostilities in Syria, in regards to its shelling of People's Protection Units (YPG) targets across its border. 

Leaving questions about Turkey's demands from the U.S. to choose between Turkey and the YPG unanswered, McGurk stressed that his meeting with the YPG in Kobane late January was aimed at achieving "political cohesiveness."

McGurk stressed that Turkish cooperation has "made a real difference" on the border and that the close partnership between Turkey and the U.S. is set to continue. 

Russian air campaign "complicating" situation at Turkey's border

McGurk also commented on the impact of Russia's air campaign in northern Syria, saying Moscow's military efforts "dramatically complicated the picture" by creating a humanitarian crisis. 

The envoy denied Russian claims that the main supply corridor from Turkey to Aleppo was used to transfer weapons, calling it instead passageway for humanitarian aid. 

"The Russians say that's to cut off the weapons corridor; it's actually primarily a humanitarian corridor. And this has really created a real humanitarian crisis.  It's also completely shaken up the situation north of there to the Turkish border," he said. 

Turkey's border efforts applauded by envoy

The U.S....