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Iran recruits children as young as 12 for military support roles: Report
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps lowered the recruitment age to 12 amid wartime personnel needs, with children volunteering for Tehran security duties, officials said.
- On Thursday, Iranian officials announced the minimum age for war-related support roles has been lowered to 12. The initiative, dubbed 'For Iran,' recruits youth to assist the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij militia with checkpoints and patrols.
- Tehran authorities launched the recruitment drive amid ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. Officials claimed teenagers requested participation, though reports suggest a shortage of willing adult volunteers for frontline militia duties.
- Throughout Tehran, residents reported armed youths manning checkpoints with Uzis or Kalashnikovs. Untrained teenagers seal off areas just 100 meters away after missile strikes, shouting orders at civilians and firing warning shots into the air.
- Recruiting children for military activities violates commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Critics likened the strategy to Berlin's final defense, calling it despicable and a sign Iran is running low on willing adult fighters.
- The recruitment push follows the death of IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri and mounting military losses. CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper reported 92 percent of the Iranian navy's large ships have been destroyed and face 'irreversible decline.
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Patrols were strengthened and controls extended in the capital city of Tehran.
·Vienna, Austria
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The whole world wants to contribute to the resistance front against the global tyrant, said Revolutionary Guards official Rahim Nadal.
Since the beginning of the war, Iranian security forces have increased checkpoints in Tehran to prevent demonstrations against the Islamic Republic.
·Paris, France
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Total News Sources20
Leaning Left2Leaning Right14Center0Last UpdatedBias Distribution87% Right
Bias Distribution
- 87% of the sources lean Right
87% Right
13%
R 87%
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