Amidst setbacks for its proxies and waning influence in the Middle East, Iran has adopted a disturbing new tactic: recruiting children to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe. This alarming trend has manifested in incidents in Sweden, Belgium, and Norway, marking an expansion of Tehran's proxy war against Israel onto European soil.
In one instance, a 15-year-old in Stockholm, armed with a loaded firearm, hailed a taxi with the intention of reaching the Israeli Embassy. Unable to find the location, he contacted an associate for directions, but Swedish authorities intercepted the cab before it arrived. This individual had been under surveillance for several months. Other incidents in Sweden involve a 13-year-old apprehended for firing shots at the Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems, and a 16-year-old involved in planting improvised explosive devices outside the same facility's entrance.
Furthermore, security services in Brussels uncovered a plot involving children as young as 14 targeting the Israeli Embassy. Reports indicate that Iranian recruiters are using platforms like Telegram, TikTok, and WhatsApp to connect with minors.
This shift in tactics coincides with a decline in Iranian influence within the Middle East, largely due to Israel's forceful responses to attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah, both Iranian proxies. The recent removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power has further exacerbated Iran's challenges in the region.
While some recruited youths may be driven by anger over Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza, financial incentives also play a role. In Sweden and Norway, individuals under the age of 15 are reportedly exempt from prosecution. The Swedish Security Service has acknowledged instances where recruited individuals may be unaware of their involvement with a foreign power.
The 16-year-old involved in the Elbit Systems attack, using thermoses filled with explosives, has been charged along with a 23-year-old accomplice. Sweden is grappling with a growing issue of organized criminal groups recruiting minors, particularly within immigrant communities. With over 1.5 million immigrants arriving since 1980, comprising roughly 20% of the population, integration challenges contribute to this vulnerability.
