US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria

Civilians in the ruins of Mosul city. (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
US-led Coalition
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

CS1923

Incident date

July 13, 2019

Location

بادية (فليطح) فلطيح, Faltih (Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), Deir Ezzor, Syria

Airwars assessment

Abed Abdullah al-Numan, a shepherd from the town of Al Tayana, was killed by an alleged Coalition airstrike when he was out working in the Faltih(Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), north of Deir Ezzor – near the Syrian-Iraqi border, according to local media.

Suriye u.a.d. reported that the victim was killed by a Coalition helicopter, whereas Euphrates post reported he was struck from a Coalition plane.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, who also blamed the Coalition, the plane was “without pilot”.

No other details are known at this time.

In September 2019 the Coalition announced that it had classed this allegation of civilian harm as non-credible. Their monthly civilian casualty report noted, “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abed Abdullah al-Numan
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A shepherd called Abed Abdullah al-Numan was out with his sheep when he was struck by an alleged Coalition airstrike on Faltih(Fletih) desert (Badit Faltih), north of Deir Ezzor - near the Syrian-Iraqi border, on July 13th (via Euphrates Post).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Fliteh (فليطح) within the Fliteh Desert (بادية فليطح) in the northern region of Deir ez-Zor Governate (مُحافظة دير الزور‎). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Stated location
    in Badit Faltih, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV157184
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 26, 2019
  • July 13, 2019, in Badit Faltih, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition

Between July 2 and July 31, 2019, CJTF-OIR conducted one strike consisting of five engagements against Daesh
targets in Syria. CJTF-OIR engaged five Daesh tactical units.

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (3) [ collapse]