The child soldier posed for the camera, holding a machine-gun and wearing black clothes and army boots. He refused to give his name or his age, but it was obvious from his appearance – his facial hair barely grown – that he was only a teenager. The boy fights along with Hashd Al Ameriat – a shia militia.

The child soldier was fighting against Daesh (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in Amiriyat al-Fallujah, a city 40 kilometres west of Baghdad, where fierce battles have been taking place between Daesh, the Iraqi Army, and the “Popular Mobilisation Forces” – militias allied with the Iraqi government.

On May 14, ISIL suicide bombers attacked the centre of Amiriyat al-Fallujah, killing ten soldiers and militiamen. ISIL is well-known for its use of child soldiers, and its “Cubs of the Caliphate” brigade has been filmed undergoing military training exercises and even taking part in executions.

Read More- al Jazeera

Image courtesy of Getty