Intel: Turkey, Iraq to decide fate of 'Islamic State children'

Turkey is repatriating almost 200 children of suspected Islamic State militants jailed in Iraq following Tuesday’s meeting between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Iraqi counterpart Barham Salih in Istanbul.

Why it matters:  While the war against the Islamic State in Iraq is largely over, tens of thousands of militants are crowding Iraqi prisons, overwhelming authorities. The fate of their children is under particularly close scrutiny by the international community. The number of so-called “Islamic State children” held in Iraq is estimated to be 1,500, according to a recent Human Rights Watch report.

The repatriation deal highlights deepening cooperation between Iraq and Turkey following two months of high-level visits between the two countries. Iraq handed over 188 Turkish children over to the Turkish authorities in Baghdad today. They are expected to arrive in Turkey soon, Reuters reports.

Laying the groundwork:  Ahead of Salih’s visit to Istanbul on Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi paid an official visit to Ankara on May 15. The month before, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was in Iraq. During these visits the two sides also agreed on several military and economic cooperation deals.