Iran Recruites Young Children to Commit Attacks on Israeli, Jewish Targets in Europe
A disturbing trend has emerged in Europe, where Iran has been recruiting young children to commit attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets. This trend has been observed in several countries, including Sweden, Belgium, and Norway.
In Sweden, a 15-year-old boy was stopped by police after taking a taxi to the Israeli Embassy, allegedly carrying a loaded gun. The boy had been monitored by authorities for several months and was reportedly contacted by recruiters on social media platforms such as Telegram, TikTok, and WhatsApp.
In Gothenburg, a 13-year-old was caught firing shots at an Israeli defense firm, Elbit Systems. Another 16-year-old was accused of helping to plant homemade explosives outside the main entrance of the same facility.
In Brussels, security services discovered children as young as 14 orchestrating an attack on the Israeli Embassy. The recruits are typically contacted by Iranian operatives who use online platforms to reach out to minors.
The trend has been linked to Iran’s dwindling influence in the Middle East, following Israel’s response to recent attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah, both Iranian proxies. The ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has also further eroded Iran’s influence in the region.
Some of the young recruits are motivated by frustration with Israel’s war in Gaza, while others are motivated by financial gain. In some cases, the young people are unaware or do not realize they are acting on behalf of a foreign power.
The use of child recruits is a new tactic by Iran, which has seen its influence in the region wane. The trend highlights the challenge in addressing the issue, as some of these individuals cannot be prosecuted due to their age in countries such as Sweden and Norway, where the minimum age of criminal responsibility is 15.