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Syrian Children Used as Suicide Bombers

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Jun 24, 2014

Humanitarian group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that Syrian children are being used by the military in horrifying ways. According to the report, children as young as 15 are being trained to fight and kill, while those even younger take on “supporting” roles. 

Since the beginning of the Syrian civil war in March 2011, 100,000 have lost lies; 11,000 of those people were children. HRW is now finding that 194 “non-civilian” boys have been killed since September 2011. 

The youngest children are forced to become suicide bombers, snipers, spies, lookouts, and army nurses, and deliver ammunition and supplies to the front lines. 

"The horrors of Syria's armed conflict are only made worse by throwing children into the front lines,” said HRW researcher Priyanka Motaparthy.

According to the report, military leaders welcome teenagers into their troops. "16, 17 isnot young. [If we don't take him,] he'll go fight on his own," said Abu Rida, leader of the Saif Allah al-Maslool brigade.

The HRW is actively working to protect Syrian children from serving in the military against their will reports Christian Today

"Governments supporting armed groups in Syria need to press these forces to end child recruitment and use of children in combat," Motaparthy said.

Publication date: June 24, 2014