US includes Turkey on list of countries using child soldiers

Photo: UN

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The US Department of State has included Turkey in the Child Soldiers Prevention Act List, which consists of 15 countries allegedly involved in the recruitment or use of child soldiers.

Turkey was put on the list due to its "tangible" support to the Sultan Murad Division, an armed group operating in the territory controlled by Turkey in northern Syria.

This was the first time that the US put a NATO member country on the list. Turkey hasn't reacted to the move yet.

A State Department official quoted by Reuters said that Turkey has now the opportunity to address the issue of the use of child soldiers in Syria and Libya.

Turkey has carried out military operations in Syria's north since 2016 and is also involved in the Libya conflict. Ankara has armed and supported several groups in both countries.

After the report, State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said they won't link Turkey's addition to the list to the discussion between Ankara and Washington on Turkey's running of the Kabul Airport after the US' withdrawal from Afghanistan. (PT/VK)