The ongoing conflict in Syria has taken another tragic turn as reports emerge of a renewed campaign by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) militia to recruit children in the Deir Ezzor Governorate.
This practice, which exploits the region’s dire economic conditions, is aimed at bolstering the militia’s ranks in the ongoing confrontation with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) along the Euphrates River. Despite efforts to curb child recruitment and conscription international observers have warned the practice is on the rise.
Local sources indicate that dozens of children have been recruited in recent days in both the city of Deir Ezzor and its surrounding areas. The militia is reportedly taking advantage of widespread poverty and a lack of job opportunities, offering meager salaries to lure children into their ranks. These children are then subjected to indoctrination, ensuring their loyalty to the militia, before being deployed in battles against the SDF.
One of the most disturbing aspects of this campaign is the involvement of the Lions of the Aqeedat militia, led by Hashem Masoud al-Sattam and supported by the IRGC. According to Nahr Media, a local network, the militia recently recruited a 16-year-old boy against his family’s wishes, convincing him to fight the SDF.
This campaign follows recent clashes in Deir Ezzor between the regime-backed Army of Tribes, supported by Iranian militias, and the SDF, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 30 civilians.
Iran’s interest in recruiting children in Syria is part of a broader strategy to solidify its influence in the region. The IRGC has established special programs and camps, such as the Mahdi Scouts, which have been operational for several years. These camps target children between the ages of 12 and 15, providing them with religious and military training. After two years of indoctrination and training, these children are transformed into experienced fighters, loyal to Iran’s objectives.
The recruitment drive is particularly focused on Syria’s eastern regions, where Iran seeks to create a loyal base among the local population. To achieve this, the IRGC exploits the severe economic hardships faced by the residents, offering financial incentives, exemptions from mandatory military service in the Assad’s forces, and immunity from prosecution.
Meanwhile, in the city of Manbij, located in the Aleppo countryside, a protest erupted in front of the Revolutionary Youth building, affiliated with the SDF. Demonstrators gathered to condemn the abduction of a 12-year-old boy, who they claim was forcibly recruited by the SDF.
The Revolutionary Youth, linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has faced multiple accusations of child recruitment, burning the headquarters of opposition parties, and kidnapping political activists. The group is notorious for its aggressive tactics in silencing dissent and ensuring compliance within areas under SDF control.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) recently reported that the SDF arrested 43 people, including 13 children, in July alone. The report highlights the SDF’s ongoing violations, which include arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, and the forced recruitment of children. The SDF is accused of holding over 56,000 people in detention facilities across its territory, including more than 30,000 children.
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