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Iraq crisis: Children with guns seen with Isis militants in chilling new footage | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Isis could be using children to fight on its frontline as it continues to push through Iraq. | Isis could be using children to fight on its frontline as it continues to push through Iraq. |
Footage of a convoy of the rebels passing through Mosul on Tuesday showed young boys toting what appeared to be assault rifles and sitting in trucks full of militants. | |
US weapons and ammunition were among the hoard looted from Iraqi army stockpiles when soldiers fled. | US weapons and ammunition were among the hoard looted from Iraqi army stockpiles when soldiers fled. |
Human Rights Watch claims that Isis fighters in Syria have already recruited children as snipers but their role in Iraq has not been confirmed. | |
The number of children killed in the growing conflict in Iraq so far is unknown but footage has shown them being drawn into the bloodshed by both sides. | The number of children killed in the growing conflict in Iraq so far is unknown but footage has shown them being drawn into the bloodshed by both sides. |
On Tuesday, images emerged of children apparently being encouraged by Isis forces to watch executions. | On Tuesday, images emerged of children apparently being encouraged by Isis forces to watch executions. |
Across the divide, pictures from Baghdad showed children with guns apparently joining adult Shia volunteers in the fight against the extremists. | Across the divide, pictures from Baghdad showed children with guns apparently joining adult Shia volunteers in the fight against the extremists. |
Isis (short for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) has left a trail of destruction in a bloody sweep down from northern Iraq and controls several cities as well as swathes of land. | |
Atrocities including beheadings, executions and massacres have been reported and thousands of civilians fearing for their lives have fled. | Atrocities including beheadings, executions and massacres have been reported and thousands of civilians fearing for their lives have fled. |
The insurgency has drawn support from disaffected Iraqi Sunni Muslims who are angry over perceived mistreatment by the Shia-led government. | The insurgency has drawn support from disaffected Iraqi Sunni Muslims who are angry over perceived mistreatment by the Shia-led government. |
It has highlighted deep religious and ethnic divisions in Iraq and the Kurdish President, Masoud Barzani, believes people are facing “a new reality and a new Iraq”. | It has highlighted deep religious and ethnic divisions in Iraq and the Kurdish President, Masoud Barzani, believes people are facing “a new reality and a new Iraq”. |
The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, urged Kurdish leaders to stand with Baghdad to fight Isis but Mr Barzani said it was “very difficult” to imagine Iraq staying together. | The US Secretary of State, John Kerry, urged Kurdish leaders to stand with Baghdad to fight Isis but Mr Barzani said it was “very difficult” to imagine Iraq staying together. |
Meanwhile, the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki defiantly rejected calls for an interim “national salvation government” hoped to draw Sunni support away from Isis. | Meanwhile, the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki defiantly rejected calls for an interim “national salvation government” hoped to draw Sunni support away from Isis. |
Barack Obama had challenged him to create a more inclusive government or risk his country descending into sectarian civil war. | Barack Obama had challenged him to create a more inclusive government or risk his country descending into sectarian civil war. |
Additional reporting by agencies | Additional reporting by agencies |
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