The recruitment of child soldiers in Syria is on the rise despite waning levels of violence, the UN has warned in a new report.
The number of children recruited by armed groups in Syria has risen steadily over the past three years – from 813 in 2020 to 1,296 in 2021 and 1,696 in 2022, the organisation said on Tuesday.
Almost 700 cases involve the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and its allies.
The Kurdish-led force operates in north-east Syria and is best known for its fight against ISIS and its female force the Women's Protection Units, which was also on the front lines against the terror group.
Its members continue to be targeted in attacks by ISIS remnants and Turkish forces, the latter leading to an invasion of SDF-held areas in October 2019, incurring huge losses.
In recent years, the SDF has acknowledged that it had child soldiers within its various umbrella groups, including the YPJ.
In 2019, SDF Chief Mazloum Abdi signed a UN action plan to end the practice, but child recruitment continued. In 2021, more than 50 child soldiers were returned to their families by the SDF, Kurdish media reports said.
Rebel groups have also recruited children the report said, with 611 cases linked to the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, and 383 to Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, led by former members of an Al Qaeda-linked group.
The Syrian government and pro-government militias were found to have 25 children within their ranks.
Nodem Shero, a representative of one of the child protection offices run by the SDF-affiliated local administration, said children continue to be recruited in areas under SDF control.
However, the complaint mechanism is working, she told AP, with 20 complaints received in the first five months of 2023 and four children returned to their families. She said the others were not with the SDF.
The AP report also cited the case of Peyal Aqil, 13, who went missing in the town of Qamishli last month.
Her family said she was forced to join the SDF and managed to escape from a training camp.
“Her psychological condition has been difficult because she … was subjected to harsh training,” said her mother, Hamrin Alouji.
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
Company%C2%A0profile
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre supercharged V8
Power: 712hp at 6,100rpm
Torque: 881Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 19.6 l/100km
Price: Dh380,000
On sale: now
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tottenham v Ajax, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Ajax v Tottenham, Wednesday, May 8, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More on animal trafficking
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The years Ramadan fell in May
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
The specs: 2017 Porsche 718 Cayman
Price, base / as tested Dh222,500 / Dh296,870
Engine 2.0L, flat four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed PDK
Power 300hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque 380hp @ 1,950rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.9L / 100km
The specs: 2018 Honda City
Price, base: From Dh57,000
Engine: 1.5L, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Continuously variable transmission
Power: 118hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 146Nm @ 4,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.8L / 100km
Draw:
Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi
Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania
Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia
Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola
Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau
Trump v Khan
2016: Feud begins after Khan criticised Trump’s proposed Muslim travel ban to US
2017: Trump criticises Khan’s ‘no reason to be alarmed’ response to London Bridge terror attacks
2019: Trump calls Khan a “stone cold loser” before first state visit
2019: Trump tweets about “Khan’s Londonistan”, calling him “a national disgrace”
2022: Khan’s office attributes rise in Islamophobic abuse against the major to hostility stoked during Trump’s presidency
July 2025 During a golfing trip to Scotland, Trump calls Khan “a nasty person”
Sept 2025 Trump blames Khan for London’s “stabbings and the dirt and the filth”.
Dec 2025 Trump suggests migrants got Khan elected, calls him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor”
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Ajax v Real Madrid, midnight (Thursday), BeIN Sports
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
New Zealand 57-0 South Africa
Tries: Rieko Ioane, Nehe Milner-Skudder (2), Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Ofa Tu'ungfasi, Lima Sopoaga, Codie Taylor. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (7). Penalty: Beauden Barrett
Sweet%20Tooth
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'Nope'
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.