BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. military says insurgents are increasingly using youths to stage attacks against American and Iraqi security forces.

The military says at least five teenagers ranging in age from 14 to 19 have been involved in grenade and suicide attacks in recent weeks in northern Iraq.

The military has frequently said it believes al-Qaeda in Iraq and other insurgent groups are recruiting children and women because of their ability to avoid scrutiny and evade heightened security measures.

But Saturday’s statement is the first to provide detailed allegations of specific teenage attackers.

It says insurgents “are capitalizing on the fact that children do not draw as much attention and soldiers do not want to harm them.”