Number of child soldiers killed fighting for the Islamic State doubles
Group of US researchers tracked information through IS propaganda and eulogies. In 2015 victims "twice" that of the past. 39% of children died in car bomb attacks, 33% in battle. 60% would have an age between 12 and 16 years, 6% is between eight and 12 years.
Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The number of child soldiers who died fighting for the so-called Islamic State (IS) in 2015 is more than "twice" the estimates made in the past. This is shown by a study published recently by researchers at Georgia State University, who have carefully traced the propaganda and eulogies of jihadist militants over the past 13 months.
"There are almost certainly many more who have died," said Charlie Winter, one of the report's co-authors. "This is just what IS has made public over the last year".
According to IS propaganda, at least 89 young people aged between eight and 18 years were killed in the fighting; the researchers also found that, compared to 2014, the number of children engaged in military operations has "at least tripled."
The research, published by the Combating Terrorism Center of West Point, also explains that between January 2015 and January 2016, 39% of young boys have died suicide car bombings and 33% in battle.
Although the IS does not provide the real names and biographies of the killed children, the researchers were able to estimate the approximate age and nationality. 60% of these children would have an age between 12 and 16, while 6% is between 8 and 12 years.
18% of the boys died in the attacks in which they themselves had no intention of surviving, so-called "inghimasis", derived from Arabic "jump, jump". They threw themselves behind enemy lines, opening fire on the soldiers and were in turn shot dead.
One of these bombers was a "pre-teen", aged between 8 and 12 years. He was killed last month in the province of Aleppo, in a suicide attack against rebel positions. The IS photographed him as he said goodbye to his father, before carrying out the suicide attack.
More than half of the victims among the children of the IS soldiers have fallen on the field of battle in Iraq, although many of them were Syrians showing how weapons flow and jihadists operate with impunity between the two countries. Moreover they take up almost half of Syria and Iraq, although in many cases the areas are desert and sparsely populated.
Other children killed were from Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Libya and a small number from the UK, France, Australia and Nigeria. The militiamen also seem to be using children alongside adults, rather than being used for specific missions.
"In other conflicts - explains Winter - the use of child soldiers may represent a strategy of last resort, as a way to rapidly replace battlefield losses, or in specialised operations for which adults may be less effective. However, in the context of IS, children are used in much the same ways as their elders," And their number, he concludes, has reached "troubling" dimensions.
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