The LTTE committed many serious war crimes during the Eelam wars. Here are some of them. To start with, there are prohibitions regarding recruitment into an army. The Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict forbids the enlistment of anyone under the age of 18 into the armed forces. According to the UN, the LTTE recruited 6,905 children. They were forcibly taken away from their families and placed in the front line. A large number died in battle. Child soldiers rescued by the army refused to go back to their families. "They can't recognize their parents. Some don't even know their names," the army said.