An 18-year-old youth from The Hague has become the sixth Dutch person to be killed fighting with rebel forces in Syria, the Volkskrant reports on Friday.

The teenager, Soufyan el H, was shot in the head during a gun battle with government forces, the paper said. H had told his parents he was going to work in a hospital.

Officials estimate between 50 and 100 Dutch nationals have travelled to fight in Syria but Muslim community sources suggest the real figure is far higher, the Volkskrant said.

At least four girls are thought to be among their number. At the end of August 19-year-old Oum Usama from Zoetermeer, who was under suspicion of attempting to recruit Dutch Muslims to take part in jihad, announced on Facebook that she was heading to Syria.

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Police stop 16-year-old girl heading to Syria
Up to 100 Dutch Muslims are fighting in holy wars
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Counter-terrorism body raises attack risk to substantial
Dutch Moroccan dies fighting in Syria, sources say
Police arrest three men who planned to fight in Syria
More Dutch jihadists but their number is still minute