Shocking images from the front lines of the conflict between the Islamic State (ISIS), Iraq and Syria show small children, some obviously young enough to still be wearing diapers, brandishing automatic weapons and the terrorist group's infamous black flag.
Islamic State troops show off photos of their little offspring, but with a sinister twist — these heavily armed babies are being turned into Islamic jihadi terrorists.
In a blatant attempt at propaganda, Islamic State militants are turning to Twitter and other social media to let their littlest supporters carry their message of hatred,
the New York Post reports.
Twitter user Osman Iraqi, who has 1,700 followers, has filled his Twitter page with photos of young children, some genuinely showing vicious snarls, waving knives, pistols and copies of the Koran and posing with their proud, gun-toting, masked daddies.
One "sweet" little girl points her finger heavenwards, wearing a black gown, sporting a black headband with Arabic writing and holding the barrel of an AK-47 assault rifle, while a small boy, perhaps seven, wearing a black and white checked Arab headdress, clutches a copy of the
Quran and a Browning pistol.
The Post notes, "Amid violent images of beheadings and warfare, Twitter’s community of ISIS sympathizers is increasingly posting propaganda-style photos of young children to further its campaigns in Syria, Iraq and beyond.
"The most chilling posts also include knives and guns so big the tots can barely carry them."
One photo shows a group of young, pre-teen boys hefting rocket launchers on their shoulders, as they appear to be hijacking a truck driver,
News.Com.Au reports.
One Twitter user commented, "I don't know why I feel obligated to say this, but I am a Muslim. I find this disgusting. Not only are these 30,000 something monsters, criminals and delinquents using and corrupting the religion of a 1.8 billion people, now they are ruining the innocence of children and embedding them with seeds that will grow nothing but thorns. Gross,"
Gawker reports.
And kids are not just being used by ISIS terrorists for much more deadly purposes than just photographs. A propaganda video recently released by ISIS's propaganda outlet al-Hayat Media claims to show a boy, about 10 years old, using a gun to execute two men the video claims "confessed to being Russian spies,"
the Independent reports.
Yet another video purported to show a suicide bombing being carried out by a boy of 14, the Independent notes.
Anti-terrorist think tank Quilliam researcher Charlie Winter told the Independent, "Whether it is real or staged, [ISIS] used a young child in this video for the shock factor, and the shock factor alone.
"Its propagandists have done it before, showing images of children training as soldiers and being kicked in the stomach in martial arts drills, but this latest video marks a departure from past norms."