A spokesperson for the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights warned Tuesday that Turkey may be held responsible for executions and civilian casualties that have occurred as a part of the Turkish military offensive in northern Syria.

Spokesperson Rupert Colville stated that their office has received reports detailing civilian casualties as well as “summary executions carried out by fighters belonging to the Ahrar al-Sharqiya armed group, which is affiliated with Turkey.” They also received reports “indicating that a well-known Kurdish female politician, Hevrin Khalaf, was also executed on the same highway, apparently also by Ahrar al-Sharqiya fighters.”

Colville emphasized that civilians and captured fighters “are to be protected” and that to conduct summary executions in this manner is against international humanitarian law. He warned that the executions “may amount to a war crime” and that Turkey may ultimately be held responsible.