The United Nations has reports of Islamic State executing people perceived as cooperating with rebel fighters in the Deir ez-Zor governorate in eastern Syria, the U.N. human rights chief said on Wednesday.
Michelle Bachelet, speaking to a news conference in Geneva, voiced deep concern for 7,000 civilians who she said were trapped between Islamic State fighters preventing them from leaving Deir ez-Zor, and airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition.
"We also have reports of ISIS executing people perceived as cooperating with SDF [Syrian Democratic Forces] or other parties to the conflict," she said, adding that civilians were being used as "pawns and bargaining chips" in the conflict.
