Daesh offensives on the towns of Marea, Kiljibrin and Kafr Kalbein have resulted in over 15,000 people becoming trapped in besieged areas in late May, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said, citing UN special rapporteurs on human rights.
The special rapporteurs added that 165,000 internally displaced persons remain trapped in areas near the Turkish border and called for a safe passage of all civilians out of conflict areas, as well as unimpeded humanitarian aid access.
"Unconfirmed yet disturbing reports indicate that ISIL [ISIL or Daesh] militants have executed families, including women and children, with alleged links to Free Syrian Army affiliated groups in the town of Kiljibrin…If verified any such actions would constitute arbitrary executions and could amount to war crimes," Special Rapporteur Christof Heyns was quoted as saying in the statement.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions.
A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire came into force across Syria on February 27. The ceasefire does not apply to terrorist organizations, such as the Islamic State and Nusra Front, outlawed in many countries, including Russia. Violence in and around Aleppo has continued despite the ceasefire, as both the Nusra Front and the IS maintain a heavy presence there.
