Trump’s top Middle East official fired by his national security adviser

The dismissal of Derek Harvey shrinks the ranks of White House aides hired by ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn

Ret. Army Col. Derek Harvey speaks about ISIS during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill May 21, 2015 (Getty Images)

Donald Trump’s top Middle East official has been fired by national security adviser HR McMaster.

Derek Harvey, a former analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency, had been a key player in the Trump administration’s Iran policy review and had been helping to develop the US's approach toward foreign policy in Syria, Iraq and other regional hotspots. He had been viewed as one of Mr Trump’s more hawkish foreign policy advisers – particularly on Iran.

In an emailed statement to The Atlantic, Mr Harvey confirmed he was leaving and praised Mr McMaster: “I have known LTG H.R. McMaster for many years, and H.R. and I have worked closely together to tackle some of our nation's most difficult challenges. I value our friendship and deeply respect his visionary leadership. I look forward to working with H.R. in my future capacity.”

Mr Harvey had a relationship with Mr McMaster that dated back to their service as advisers to General David Petraeus in Iraq during the 2000s, according to Politico.

“General McMaster greatly appreciates Derek Harvey’s service to his country as a career Army officer, where he served his country bravely in the field and played a crucial role in the successful surge in Iraq, and also for his service on Capitol Hill and in the Trump administration,” said NSC spokesman Michael Anton. “The administration is working with Colonel Harvey to identify positions in which his background and expertise can be best utilized.”

Mr Harvey had been brought into the Trump administration by ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who resigned in February after it was revealed that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with a Russian official.

Since taking on the role of national security adviser, Mr McMaster has removed several staffers hired by his predecessor, including former deputy national security adviser KT McFarland.

Mr McMaster has also reportedly tried to push out Ezra Cohen-Watnick, the senior director for intelligence coordination, but the President is said to have personally saved Mr Cohen-Watnick's job.

The dismissal of Mr Harvey comes in the same week as Mr Trump’s reported refusal to sign off on Mr McMaster's plan to send more US troops to Afghanistan, with members of the President’s cabinet apparently split on how to approach the longstanding war in the country.