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Young Australians being used as 'cannon fodder' by IS

Islamic State is using young Australians who go out to join the conflict as ‘cannon fodder’, according to Attorney General George Brandis.

One in four Australian jihadists who have gone to Syria and Iraq have already died according to The Australian.

Main battlegrounds like Kobane are reportedly becoming ‘graveyards’ for foreign fighters.

Queenslander Zia Abdul Haq, 33, is the latest Australian to be killed in the conflict and there have been five or six people who have died in recent weeks.


George Brandis says young Australian are 'cannon fodder' for IS. Photo: Getty


'They (Islamic State) are simply using them as frontline cannon fodder, suicide bombers and propaganda tools, Mr Brandis told the Australian.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay echoed the same thoughts saying social media is the main tool terrorists are using to get youngsters to join the conflict.


"We're still seeing lots of stuff on the social media which is extremely worrying and obviously there's attempts to get young people to go over to the Middle East and fight.

"It's still going on, we're still watching it very closely, and we're working with other police jurisdictions and other agencies to try and prevent that happening."

The total number of Australians killed in Syria and Iraq has reportedly reached about 20, from an estimated 90 who are still in the conflict zone.


Mohammad Ali Baryalei (pictured), Australia's most wanted terrorist was reportedly killed while fighting for Islamic State in October..


Mr Lay said the figures underlined the risk young Australians faced if they travelled to the battleground.

"You'd hope that mainly young men who are considering this understand that they're very likely to get killed if they do go over and fight," he said.


Australian teenager Abdullah Elmir (centre) appeared in an Islamic State propaganda video in October.


In October, 17-year-old Abdullah Elmir, who is also known as the 'Ginger Jihadist', appeared in an Islamic State propaganda video.

He left his home in Bankstown, western Sydney, after telling his mother he was going fishing.

He is also known as the 'Ginger Jihadist' and in the video he threatened revenge against western leaders, and directs a specific threat to Tony Abbott and
Australia, over airstrikes on Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq.


Sydney teenager, Abdullah Elmir, has surfaced in a chilling Islamic State video threatening Prime Minister Tony Abbott and other western leaders over air strikes in Iraq and Syria. Photo: ABC


It was believed to be the first time the Islamic State has mentioned Mr Abbott and Australia in one of its propaganda videos.

In the two-minute clip posted online in October the teenager, who is dressed in military attire, holding a rifle and flanked by fellow jihadists, warns:


Photo: Reuters


"This message I deliver to you, the people of America.

“This message I deliver to you, the people of Britain, and I deliver this message to you, especially, the people of Australia.

"Bring every nation that you want to come and fight us. It means nothing to us.

“Whether it's 50 nations or 50,000 nations, it means nothing to us. Bring your planes. Bring everything you want to us. Because it will not harm us. Why? Because we have Allah."

Sydney student Taha ElBaf and three brothers also left western Sydney last month to join the IS militants in Syria.

They told their parents they had won a holiday to Thailand and disappeared sending their sister a text message saying ‘See you in Paradise’.