Rebels Turn Syria Children into Killing Machines

Thursday 7 February 2013

Rebels Turn Syria Children into Killing Machines

A leader of Jabhat An-Nusrah in Aleppo (Abu Hafs Al-Libi) threatens to cut off heads with his swords

This file photo shows a teenager recruited by the militants in Syria to fight against government forces.

Despite prohibition by international law on the recruitment of children as combatants, the foreign-backed militants in Syria force minors to join them in the battle against the Syrian government, a report says.

Rebels Turn Syria Children into Killing Machines

Local Editor

Oblivious to international laws prohibiting child combatants, Syrian teenagers are the killing machine used by the rebels.

According to a report by Agence France Presse, Abdel Razzaq, a 38-year-old former army sergeant who trains the boys stated: "When they arrive here, they are children. By the time they leave, they are killing machines."

"I train them not to be scared of war and not to hesitate when the time comes to kill," he said, speaking of his latest group of 20 volunteers, aged 14 to 18.

He further claimed that "there are no more adult men in the villages. Now it's the children who come for military training."

Instead of books, Abdel Razzaq teaches his students how to handle a Kalashnikov, or AK-47 assault rifle, the weapon most commonly used by the rebels.

He teaches them how to disarm their army [the supposed enemy]and kill him with a knife or even their bare hands.

"Children are the best soldiers I know. They obey every command. An adult asks questions and answers back. But the children, they question nothing," said Abdel Razzaq.

"Musab, you're supposed to kill your opponent, not caress him!" he shouted out as he watched a 14-year-old boy try to disarm an opponent with a punch rather than by stabbing him.
Sobhi, aged 15, said he begged his father to allow him to start training.

Abdel Razzaq's "military academy" is a former school, located in northern Syria's Aleppo province. Before being sent off to the front, the boys receive two hours of training a day for three months.

"Without proper training, they would die quickly," claimed Abdel Razzaq.

Fifteen-year-old Mohammed seems to have quickly learned how to assemble and dismantle his Kalashnikov.

"Ready!" he said proudly, showing off to the instructor.

It is worth mentioning that international law prohibits the use of anyone under the age of 18 in combat and in military support operations, such as espionage, transporting weapons or providing supplies to fighters.

The use of children "as combatants or as a support to combatants constitutes a grave violation of children's rights," said UNICEF child protection coordinator Jean-Nicolas Beuze.

According to rights groups, the Syrian war left more than 3,500 children dead, according to monitors.
Several amateur videos have shown child in flashpoints across the country.

Distributed by the media or even by rebel groups turning child soldiers into trophies, several videos have shown young boys brandishing Kalashnikovs and other weapons.
One video shot in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor showed a young boy holding an automatic rifle, as rebels fired their weapons nearby.

"This is the youngest fighter in Syria," said the unidentified cameraman shooting the video. The boy introduces himself as "Danny Walid, aged 14."

Another video widely showed shocking images of a young boy surrounded by men identified as rebels.

The axe-wielding boy beheads a man stretched out on the ground. The men congratulate him, and then kick the severed head at the boy's feet.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org