Iran recruits boys as young as 12 for ‘self-sacrifice’ military units
Iran expands wartime mobilization by enlisting boys aged 12 in paramilitary brigades, raising global concerns over child soldiers.
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In a significant escalation of its wartime mobilization, Iran has launched a program to recruit and train boys as young as 12 to join paramilitary groups and terroristic ‘self-sacrifice’ units known as Janfada. This initiative marks a controversial expansion of the country’s military strategy, drawing international condemnation.
The Iranian regime has confirmed that these young recruits will undergo military instruction at specialized training centers and high-traffic public squares, including converting major urban centers like Tehran’s Imam Hussein Square into temporary pseudo-camps. These pseudo-camps are described as mock bases or deceptive staging grounds used in military operations.
Training and Recruitment Strategy
While the program initially targets young boys, female recruits will only be eligible for military training once they reach the age of 18. The initiative is being carried out through the nationwide infrastructure of the Basij paramilitary force, which operates directly under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The recruitment campaign, which uses slogans such as ‘We have one life, and we give it for Iran,’ is designed to build war readiness and provide tactical instruction. Recruits will be trained in urban security, surveillance, operating micro-drones, and handling shoulder-launched weaponry, according to regime spokespersons.
Global Reaction and Concerns
Global human rights organizations and monitoring bodies have strongly condemned the recruitment of minors, highlighting that using children under 15 for military operations directly violates international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime under customary international law.
Rights advocates argue that deploying young recruits to active security posts exposes them to severe violence and blurs the line between civilians and combatants. Some minors, such as 11-year-old Alireza Jafari, have reportedly been killed on duty, raising further ethical concerns.
Defense analysts have noted that this strategy mirrors tactics used during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, reflecting a willingness by Iranian authorities to ‘draw heavily upon impressionable youth to bolster domestic security and replace manpower losses.’
Source: OANN
