Turkey may be held responsible for war crimes over executions in Syria, UN warns

As Syrian forces push further into Kurdish-held territory, capturing the border town of Manbij, the United Nations is warning Turkey it could be held responsible for executionsof captured Kurdish fighters and a politician by an affiliated armed group, saying the acts may amount towar crimes.

The United Nations human rights office said Tuesday it had documented civilian casualties caused by airstrikes, ground-based strikes and sniper fire each day since the Turkish offensive began in northeastern Syria a week ago, following the announcement U.S. President Donald Trump had plans to start withdrawing troops.

Turkey and its Syrian rebel allies launched a military offensive into Kurdish-held parts of the northeast,saying it aims to defeat the Kurdish YPG militia, which Turkeysees as terrorists for its links to separatists.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) accused Turkey-backed fighters of killing a Kurdish politician in an ambush on a road in northern Syria on Saturday. A Turkey-backed rebel force denied the killing and said it had not advanced that far.

UN human rights spokespersonRupert Colville said video footage appeared to show executions of three Kurdish captives carried out by Ahrar al-Sharqiya fighters, a rebel group affiliated with Turkey, on the highway between Hasaka and Manbij on Saturday.

The UN had received reports that Hevrin Khalaf, a Kurdish politician, was executed on the same highway by the same group on the same day, he said, adding that summary executions may amount to war crimes.

"Turkey could be deemed responsible as a state for violations by their affiliated groups as long as Turkey exercises effective control of these groups or the operations in the course of which those violations occurred," Colville told a news briefing.

"We urge Turkish authorities immediately to launch an impartial, transparent and independent investigation and to apprehend those responsible, some of whom should be easily identifiable from the video footage they themselves shared on social media."

UN war crimes investigators would follow up on all incidents, Colvilleadded.

At least four civilians, including two journalists, were killed and dozens injured when a convoy was hit by a Turkish airstrike on the Syrian town of Ras al-Ayn on Sunday, Colville said.

The UN human rights office had reports of alleged airand ground strikes on five health facilities by Turkish forces and affiliated groups. It had reports of attacks on civilian infrastructure, including power lines, water supplies and bakeries, he said.

Turkish authorities have reported 18 civilians were killed in Turkey, including a nine-month-old baby, by cross-border mortar and sniper fire by Kurdish fighters, he said.

Syrian forces take Kurdish-heldManbij

Syrian government forces entered thecentre of theonce Kurdish-held northern town of Manbij, about 30 kilometres south of the Turkish border, and raised the national flag, Syrian state media say.

A video released by SANA showed some people gathered in the main square waving Syrian flags Tuesday morning.

Syrian President Basharal-Assad's forces had left the area at the height of the civil war, leaving it to the Kurdish groups.

The flashpoint area housed U.S. troops who patrolled the region since 2017 to deter a confrontation between Turkey and Kurdish fighters.

This is our nightmare scenario.- Made Ferguson,Mercy Corps' Syrian deputy country director

A U.S. military spokesperson, Col. Myles B. Caggins, confirmed U.S. troops had completed their pullout from Manbij. During the withdrawal, contacts were kept open with the Turks and Russians to ensure the several hundred American forces there got out safely, U.S. officials said.

U.S. troops have had outposts in Manbij since 2017, when they went in to avert a battle over the town between Turkish and Kurdish fighters.

Later on Tuesday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu spoke to hisU.S. counterpartMark Esperto discuss "issues of mutual interest in the context of the situation in Syria," the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement. It didn't offer any details.

One Turkish soldier was killed and eight others were wounded on Tuesday after Kurdish fighters defended their position inManbij, Turkey's DefenceMinistry said. At least 15 fighters had been "neutralized" in retaliation, the ministry said.

Near the different border town of Ras al-Ayn, Turkish artillery werepounding suspected Kurdish positions as Turkey's military incursion enteredits seventh day.

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UN Security Council, NATO schedule meetings

The Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria says humanitarian conditions are getting worse by the day.The administration called on the UN, the Arab League and the European Unionto "intervene quickly and provide medical, logistical and humanitarian assistance to the displaced to avoid the humanitarian crisis."

The UNSecurity Council planned a closed meeting Wednesday on the situation, requested by Germany and other EU members.

"Everybody hopes that ... we can do something to bring back the parties to the peace process," said the current Security Council president, South Africa's UNAmbassador Jerry Matjila.

NATO ambassadors also will meet on Wednesday in Brussels on Turkey's offensive, said alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Doctors Without Borders (DWB)said Tuesday it had also suspended most of its medical aid activities in the region and was evacuating all international staff in the wake of airstrikes and violence.

"The decision to suspend the majority of DWB's activities comes as the humanitarian situation spirals further out of control and needs are likely to increase," the aid organization said in a statement.

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Trump threatens todestroy Turkey's economy

Trump said Tuesday he is fully prepared to destroy Turkey's economy if its leaders continue what he calls "this dangerous and destructive path" in Syria.

On Monday, Trump announced a halt to negotiations on a $100-billion US trade deal with Turkey. Other sanctions include raising steel tariffs back up to 50 per centand actions against three senior Turkish officials and Turkey's defence and energy ministries.

The U.S. is calling on Turkey to stop its invasion of Syria and declare a ceasefire in the assault.

A U.S. official saidthe approximately 1,000 U.S. troops being withdrawn will reposition in Iraq, Kuwait and possibly Jordan.

Trump is sending Vice-President Mike Pence and national security adviser Robert O'Brien to Ankara as soon as possible in an attempt to begin negotiations with Kurdish forces in Syria.