Islamic State recruits 400 Syrian children to fight

At least 400 Syrian children have been recruited by the Islamic State since January.

In the past three months, these so-called “Cubs of the Caliphate” have been indoctrinated and given military training, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Tuesday.

The children, all under 18 years old, were recruited near schools, mosques and public areas where the terrorist group carries out brutal killings and punishments.

“They use children because it is easy to brainwash them. They can build these children into what they want, they stop them from going to school and send them to [Islamic State] schools instead,” Rami Abdulrahman, who heads the British-based observatory for human rights, told Reuters.

A video released by the Islamic State earlier this month shows a young boy shooting dead an Israeli Arab accused by the group of being a spy, for example.

According to Abdulrahman, the Islamic State may be increasing its recruitment of children, as only 120 adults have joined its ranks since the start of the new year.

 

 

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/islamic-state-recruits-400-syrian-children-to-fight/article/2561954