Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the validity of reports that civilians who left the Tanf de-confliction zone for humanitarian reasons have been executed by forces loyal to the Assad regime.

We are aware of, but not in a position to confirm, reports of executions of civilians returning to regime-held territory from Rukban IDP camp within the Al Tanf Deconfliction Zone. We have been clear that any such movement should be safe, voluntary, well-informed and dignified. We have strongly supported the UN's calls for Russia and the Syrian regime to allow in humanitarian assistance to Rukban, to guarantee protection of rights for those wishing to return and to allow UN access throughout the return process.