ISIS increasing efforts to recruit children in eastern Syria

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In a desperate attempt to bolster its numbers after its defeat at the hands of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) of North and East Syria, Iraqi Security Forces, and the U.S.-led International Coalition, the Islamic States (ISIS) has intensified its efforts to recruit children, primarily in Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor).

According to a report by Voice of America based on U.S. military intelligence, warned that despite the series of SDF campaigns, ISIS maintains significant influence and freedom of movement in many of the camps for displaced persons and refugees in North and East Syria despite repeated efforts by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to assert control.

U.S. military officials have repeatedly warned of the possibility of ISIS benefiting from the poor conditions in the camps.

Commander of U.S. Central Command General Kenneth McKenzie Jr. stressed the need to get these children out of the camps, reintegrate them into society, and eradicate the extremism ideology fostered by ISIS to avoid a future military problem.