At Least 52 Children Die for Islamic State in Six Months: SOHR

At least 52 Syrian children under the age of 16 died in the past six months while fighting for the Islamic State group, including several suicide bombers, the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Wednesday.

At least eight children blew themselves up, SOHR said in an e-mail. More than 30 were killed by U.S.-led coalition air strikes or regime bombing of military posts, according to SOHR, which monitors the war in Syria using local activists.

Islamic State began its call to arms to children after its fighters seized Mosul in Iraq in June 2014, establishing its extremist caliphate straddling the border with Syria. It formalized the recruitment drive using offices called “Cubs of the Caliphate,” which have attracted more than 1,100 children below the age of 18 since January, according to SOHR.

Children fighting for Islamic State have also killed prisoners and hostages, according to SOHR. On May 27, 25 children shot 25 Syrian government troops and militiamen amid the ruins of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra shortly after Islamic State seized control.

SOHR said the child casualties occurred between Jan. 25 and July 14, and the group only reports deaths it can confirm.

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-15/at-least-52-children-die-for-islamic-state-in-six-months-sohr