400 children in Syria recruited by IS in 2015

More than 400 minors have been made to join the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group since early 2015 throughout areas under the group's control in Syria, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Tuesday.

Efe news agency cited SOHR as also reporting that at least 120 new jihadis have joined the IS since the beginning of the year, finding that "the last three months are considered the least in terms of proportion of joining IS by fighters from all nationalities since the declaration of its self-proclaimed 'caliphate' on June 28, 2014".

The jihadi group continues "to attract and recruit children within its ranks under the so called 'Ashbal al-Khilafah (lion cubs of the caliphate)", SOHR noted, adding that the IS has recently opened youth recruitment offices in two Syrian cities, al- Mayadin and al-Bokamal.

"The organisation also induces the parents and guardians to send their sons to these camps where the children undergo training in Sharia and military courses," the NGO documented.

The report explains that the IS curriculum in Sharia, Islamic jurisprudence, instills the extremist "IS ideology" in the hearts and minds of the children, while the military courses teach them how to operate weapons and engage enemies in armed conflict.

SOHR also reported that the IS entices children to join with money, weapons and cars, while the youth are often made to work as spies to gather information, and as guards on IS posts.

In two separate videos, thought to have been in part of the group's propaganda campaign, youth members of the IS were depicted allegedly executing two Russians and an Israeli Arab with gunshots.