From two young boys posing with guns to a baby lying on an ISIS flag surrounded by weapons, these images show the children dubbed the jihadists of the future.
The shocking photos, which have been posted on social media sites accompanied by chilling messages, were taken by the youngsters' parents and other militants in Syria and Iraq.
They include children pointing assault rifles toward the sky, giving the Islamic State's one-finger salute and being indoctrinated in the ways of the extremist group.
Alarmingly, a number of the images appear to have been uploaded by British fighters who have travelled to the war-torn countries to wage jihad.
One Twitter user, who goes by the name Abu Farris, posted a picture of a child in a balaclava appearing to operate a machine gun mounted on the back of a truck.
The accompanying message reads: 'Abul Farooq 7 yr old kid with his dad in dawlah. He's soooo cute!!'
Meanwhile, another fighter Abu Turaab has uploaded a photo of a toddler being held by a man with a machine gun slung over his shoulder.
The photo caused a furious backlash online, with one user accusing the organisation of using 'babies as weapons to kill the innocent'.
(Inset) Islamist group al-Shabab leader
The leader of the extremist Islamist group al-Shabab has been killed in an American drone strike in Somalia, the Pentagon confirmed Friday.
The death of Ahmed Godane, who founded the Somalia-based group, is considered a significant blow for the al-Qaeda-affiliated organization, government officials said.
'Godane’s removal is a major symbolic and operational loss to the largest al-Qaeda affiliate in Africa and reflects years of painstaking work by our intelligence, military and law enforcement professionals,' said Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, in a statement.
Godane's group has carried many bombings and suicide attacks in Somalia and elsewhere, including the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 2013 that killed at least 39 people.
He was in one of two vehicles hit by the U.S. military strikes Monday night, said Abu Mohammed, an al-Shabab commander and spokesman.
Six other militants were also killed as the two vehicles headed toward the coastal town of Barawe.
The U.S. strikes hit Godane after he left a meeting of the group's top leaders, said a senior Somali intelligence official.
See the 'junior jihadi' children pics below.
The death of Ahmed Godane, who founded the Somalia-based group, is considered a significant blow for the al-Qaeda-affiliated organization, government officials said.
'Godane’s removal is a major symbolic and operational loss to the largest al-Qaeda affiliate in Africa and reflects years of painstaking work by our intelligence, military and law enforcement professionals,' said Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, in a statement.
Godane's group has carried many bombings and suicide attacks in Somalia and elsewhere, including the Westgate Mall attack in Nairobi, Kenya, in September 2013 that killed at least 39 people.
He was in one of two vehicles hit by the U.S. military strikes Monday night, said Abu Mohammed, an al-Shabab commander and spokesman.
Six other militants were also killed as the two vehicles headed toward the coastal town of Barawe.
The U.S. strikes hit Godane after he left a meeting of the group's top leaders, said a senior Somali intelligence official.
See the 'junior jihadi' children pics below.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Follow me on Twitter: @toyeenbsworld
Instagram: @toyeenbsworlddubai
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ToyeenB
YouTube: Oluwatoyin Balogun