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Djilali Belaid / AFP - Getty Images
An image grab taken from AFP TV shows a Syrian boy holding a Kalashnikov as he is comforted by a rebel during fighting with government forces at the Crac des Chevaliers near the village of Azzara on the outskirts of the flashpoint city of Homs on June 28, 2012. Protected by the night, Syrian rebels climb on board motorcycles, lights off, on their way to the Crac des Chevaliers, a crusader castle which they are fiercely defending against government forces who continue to attack the area with tanks and artillery.
Agence France Presse (AFP) reports that Syrian rebel fighters are engaged in a fierce battle at the Crac des Chevaliers, a medieval castle dating back to the time of the Crusades. The Free Syrian Army is desperate to hold on to the fortress and even teenagers are joining the fighting, according to AFP.
Last month, the U.N.'s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict criticized the rebellion's main armed group for its treatment of children.
"For the first time we heard of children being recruited by the Free Syrian Army mainly in medical and service orientated jobs but still on the front line," Radhika Coomaraswamy told the BBC.
See more of Djilali Belaid's images of the fight for Azzara on PhotoBlog, and watch his video report about the battle for the castle.
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ASSAD is killing and torturing their parents AND killing and torturing kids. IF they don't fight, they'll be next. ASSAD is HITLER. He has no morals and no concience. IF any of these kids already NOT hurt, dead, arrested and tortured, OR who still have parents alive and free, do NOT fight, they will be next IF those who are fighting lose. The NORMAL rules of war, if that is NOT an oxymoron in itself, are OUT THE WINDOW. ASSAD is pure evil, on the scale of Hitler, Stalin, Castro, and Kim Il Sung. There are no rules. Win or Die. That's it.
And giving these kids guns and ammo then pointing them to the front lines is different from strapping a bomb to their chests how? Is the press going to call these kids "freedom fighters" next time they need to tug at our heart strings or are they going to be called "children" when they are lined up face down in the street for photo ops?
The truth finally emerges - the Rebels (activist) that are supported by various terrorist groups are now and always have been using children in battle as fighters and human shields. Bill - it is well documented that terrorist groups are attacking Assad's military in hope of taking Syria and creating an Islamic state as they are doing in Libya and Egypt.
Comparing the ME Muslim leaders, Assad is by far the best ruler!
Let us keep away from Shiites vs Sunni battles in Syria, Iran and other places.
Both are religious mad people!
While battling Saddam Iran sent children for battles promising them that they will become martyrs.
Children and women are freely sent as suicide bombers and battles in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other places.
As Syrian rebels are being supported by Sunni Saudi inventions like al-Qaida, MB and others, anything is possible.
War is hell, especially when you're own ethnic group is facing repercussions and possible extermination by the ruling military power. The ethnic Sunni fighters (whether teens or adults) must join the frontlines and man the barricades alont with the adults. This story is nothing to be alarmed about. This is humanity and who we are.
Our history is littered with stories of teenagers fighting for the cause. To cite a few examples, Russian teens in Stalingrad (1942-43) fighting with regular Red Army forces, Northern and Southern teenage soldiers in our own civil war (1861-65), teenage fighters for the Nationalist or Republican forces in the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). Really, just too many examples to make the point that this is not a big deal.
For my part, I believe that I would have been capable of fighting for a military cause by the age of 15 or 16. Most young men are generally speaking ready for military service at this age.
To conclude - I'm proud of these teenage soldiers that are fighting for their cause along side their fathers, brothers, uncles and extended frienships. Best of luck to the Anti-Assad fighters. You're winning the greater fight. The regime that is attempting to suppress and repress you is crumbling at its foundations.
You have to be pretty desperate and cold blooded to teach teenagers to murder. Studies have shown that teenagers undergo major cognitive changes during the adolescent years and what they experience will effect their behaviour as adults.
But please give the women weapons and training you will WIN any war. Women can be pretty vicious when their children's lives are at risk. They don't want to be left behind to weep and feel helpless.
What is wrong with the people? We are on the XXI century and the United Nations is allowing this?