U.S. and France Warn Mazloum Abdi Over Continued Recruitment of Child Soldiers

ARK News.. Syrian media sources have revealed that both the United States and France are pressuring the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to halt the recruitment of children and minors in areas under their control. The warnings come amid a noticeable uptick in child recruitment operations carried out by the "Revolutionary Youth" movement over the past month.

According to Syria TV, a representative from the U.S. State Department urged Mazloum Abdi, commander of the SDF, to put an end to the recruitment of minors by the "Revolutionary Youth" group and other affiliated military factions.

The source stated that the U.S. warned of the serious implications of these ongoing violations, particularly during this sensitive period, and highlighted the potential consequences for both the SDF and the broader northeastern Syria region.

In a similar move, French envoy Rémy Darrieux reportedly sent a message to the SDF leadership, including a list of children who were recently recruited. He called for their immediate return to their families and demanded an end to the abduction and forced enlistment of minors.

According to the source, Mazloum Abdi pledged to both Washington and Paris that efforts would be made to return the children soon and cease further recruitment activities. He justified the incidents by claiming that some children had sought refuge in autonomous administration centers to escape domestic violence, or that certain recruitment cases occurred unofficially and without the knowledge of SDF leadership.

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