The Syrian government can be linked with plenty of atrocities already but this story reminds me of the allegations that Saddam was mincing prisoners and had weapons of mass destruction. The purpose was to stoke up the heat so that wobbling politicians could vote for invasion with a clear conscience.

And even more of the bombs disguised as toys so that kids would blow themselves up that first surfaced in WW2, and have been quoted as fact in many a conflict since then.

The sad reality is that anybody seriously committed to the fight wouldn't think twice about going for the target whether there was a kid in the way or not. Indeed the fact that they gain a reputation for being ruthless may even be a benefit. I don't suppose McGuinness was too bothered about the kids his people blew up in Warrington because it got the result he was after.