A disturbing trend has emerged: Iranian recruitment of children to carry out attacks targeting Israelis and Jewish people across Europe. This new tactic follows recent setbacks for Iranian proxies and a decline in Iranian influence in the Middle East.

Incidents in Sweden, Belgium, and Norway illustrate Iran’s expanding proxy war against Israel into Europe.

In Stockholm, a 15-year-old, armed with a loaded gun, hailed a taxi to the Israeli embassy but, unable to locate it, needed directions from an accomplice. Swedish police apprehended him before he reached his destination; authorities had been monitoring him for months.

In Gothenburg, a 13-year-old fired shots at Elbit Systems, an Israeli defense firm. A 16-year-old planted homemade explosives at the same facility, as reported by Bloomberg.

Brussels security services uncovered a plot involving children as young as 14 to attack the Israeli embassy.

Digital has contacted the Iranian Mission to the United States for comment.

According to Peter Nesser, a terrorism researcher at a Norwegian defense research institute, Iranian regime recruiters have targeted minors on platforms such as Telegram, TikTok, and WhatsApp.

This new strategy coincides with a significant weakening of Iran’s regional influence, resulting from Israel’s strong response to attacks by Hamas and Hezbollah, both Iranian proxies.

Further compounding Iran’s difficulties is the recent removal of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

While some recruited children act out of frustration with Israel’s conflict with Hamas, others are motivated by financial incentives. The report notes that in Sweden and Norway, those under 15 cannot be prosecuted.

“There are cases where the proxies aren’t aware or don’t realize that they are acting on behalf of a foreign power,” stated the Swedish Security Service in a recent statement.

The 16-year-old who attacked Elbit Systems used explosive-filled thermos flasks and was charged alongside a 23-year-old accomplice, according to Bloomberg.

Sweden is experiencing a rise in organized crime gangs recruiting minors from immigrant communities.

Since 1980, over 1.5 million people have immigrated to Sweden, with approximately 20% of the population now foreign-born; many struggle with integration, according to the report.