Terror threat

Islamic State moulds children into new generation of militants

IS recruits children to use them as human shields, fighters, suicide bombers, snipers, and blood donors.

In July 2015, IS released a video of what is believed to be the group's first recorded beheading by a child soldier. Children have also reportedly beeninstructed by IS militants to shoot captives.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said in July 2015 that IS had used as many as 19 children as suicide bombers. The report announced that at least 52 children under the age of 16 had died fighting for IS so far in 2015.

Residents of Raqqa told Syria Deeply that children were taught in ISIS training camps how to behead another human being, and were given blonde dolls on which to practise.