(CNN) —
US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces say a prominent politician, her driver, members of Kurdish security forces and several civilians were killed by Turkish-backed militants in Syria on Saturday, after videos circulating online appeared to show the killings.
The Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army or FSA (also called the Syrian National Army), have denied those claims. CNN cannot independently verify the videos.
A video circulating on social media purports to show the bullet-riddled SUV of Secretary-General of the pro-Kurdish Future Syria Party, Hevrin Khalaf, surrounded by several men wearing what appears to be military fatigues.
In a separate video, a body of a woman – believed to be Khalaf – is seen lying in rubble with her face and hair covered in dust. At least one man can be seen standing over her and filming. He taps the body with his feet and says, “this is the corpse of pigs.” The video is filmed up close and little else can be seen in the clip.
Local journalist Ousama Muhammed, who knows Khalaf, told CNN that the vehicle belongs to her. Meanwhile, the Syrian Democratic Council – the political wing of the SDF (who led the charge in defeating ISIS in Syria) – blamed Turkish-backed militias in a statement on Khalaf’s death.
“She was taken out of her car during a Turkish-backed attack and executed by Turkish-backed mercenary factions on the International Road between Qamishlo and Manbij, with her driver who was also martyred,” the statement said.
Turkish media reports that Khalaf had been killed by aerial bombardment. CNN cannot independently verify how or where Khalaf died.
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A car burns following a car bomb explosion in Tal Abyad, a city in northern Syria near the Turkey border, on Saturday, November 23.
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Kurdish demonstrators hurl rocks at a Turkish military vehicle on Friday, November 8, during a joint Turkish-Russian patrol near the town of Al-Muabbadah in the northeastern part of Hassakah on the Syrian border with Turkey.
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A man stands next to a burning motorcycle at the site of a deadly car bomb explosion in Tal Abyad, Syria, on Saturday, November 2. Turkey's defense ministry blamed the Kurdish People's Protection Units and the Kurdistan Workers Party, while a group aligned with the Kurds blamed Turkey.
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A man inspects the site of the car bomb explosion in Tal Abyad.
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A Turkish and Russian patrol is seen near the town of Darbasiyah, Syria, on Friday, November 1. Turkey and Russia launched patrols in northeastern Syria under a deal that halted the Turkish offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters.
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Turkish soldiers east of Ras al-Ain watch as a tank fires on positions held by the Syrian Democratic Forces on Monday, October 28.
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Syrian Kurds wave flags in Qamishli as they take part in a demonstration in support of the Syrian Democratic Forces on October 28.
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Kurdish forces withdraw from an area near the Turkish border with Syria on Sunday, October 27.
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Displaced Syrian children sit on classroom tables at a school turned into a shelter on Thursday, October 24.
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Russian military police began patrols on part of the Syrian border on Wednesday, October 23.
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People angry over the US withdrawal hurl potatoes at American military vehicles as they pass through Qamishli on Monday, October 21. The image was taken from video provided by the Kurdish Hawar News Agency.
Photos: The conflict in northern Syria
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US military vehicles drive after pulling out of their base in the northern Syrian town of Tal Tamr on Sunday, October 20.
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A US service member looks out of an armored vehicle as troops pull out of their base in Tal Tamr.
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Smoke billows from a fire in Ras al-Ain, Syria, on Friday, October 18. US Vice President Mike Pence announced a day earlier that he and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had agreed to a ceasefire halting Turkey's incursion into northern Syria. The Turkish government insisted that the agreement was not a ceasefire, but only a "pause" on operations in the region.
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A woman reacts as a man's dead body arrives at a hospital in Ras al-Ain on October 18.
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Displaced Syrians carry their belongings at a refugee camp north of Mosul, Iraq, on Thursday, October 17.
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Local residents cheer as Turkish army tanks are transported on the outskirts of Akcakale, Turkey, on October 17.
Photos: The conflict in northern Syria
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A local resident of Ras al-Ain kisses the forehead of a member of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army on October 17.
Photos: The conflict in northern Syria
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Displaced people ride a motorcycle on the outskirts of Tal Tamr, Syria, on Wednesday, October 16.
