White House appoints new ISIS czar

President Obama has promoted one of his national security officials to serve as his senior adviser for the counter-ISIS campaign, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Monday.

The new ISIS czar, Rob Malley, previously helped negotiate the Iran nuclear deal as the National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa. In his new role, Malley will focus on "ensuring full inter-agency coordination" in the counter-ISIS campaign, Earnest said. He'll work in partnership with Brett McGurk, the president's special envoy to the counter-ISIS campaign.

The president has directed Malley and McGurk to focus on measures that strengthen the United States' partnership with Iraq and to support stepped up diplomatic efforts to bring about a political transition in Syria.