U.S. Forces in Yemen

U.S. forces conducted the first known drone strike in Yemen in 2002, and have conducted periodic strikes against Al-Qaeda since 2009. In late 2023, Houthi militants began attacking shipping in the Red Sea in support of Palestinian militants in Gaza. In response, US-led forces began a campaign against the Houthis, with an escalation March-May 2025.

Airwars has documented all allegations of civilian harm from U.S. strikes in Yemen since 2009, and has produced a number of reports and investigations into the allegations of harm.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

442 – 640

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely U.S. Forces actions in Yemen for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the U.S. Forces. These originate from 152 separate alleged incidents.

90 – 110
children likely killed
38 – 57
women likely killed
470
likely injured
422
named victims

U.S. Forces estimate of civilian deaths

13

Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S. Forces actions in Yemen, originating from 3 separate incidents of civilian harm.

2
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
548 – 824
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S. Forces actions in Yemen.
152 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
442 – 640
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S. Forces
96 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
39 – 52
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
30 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
67 – 132
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
26 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
0 seperate alleged incidents

Civilian Casualty Incidents — U.S. Forces in Yemen

Start Date

End Date

Strike Type

Causes of Death / Injury

Strike Status

Civilian Harm Status

Belligerent Assessment

Casualty

Infrastructure

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444 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

25 January 2020

Incident Code

USYEMTr218

Location

جو النسيم, Joe Al Naseem, Ma'rib, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly targeted a house in Joe Al Naseem, in the Wadi Obeida area of Marib governorate, at 11am on January 25th 2020, killing at least one alleged AQAP leadership figure. Some sources later indicated that AQAP leader Qasim al-Raymi died in the strike, one of three alleged January US actions in…

Summary

Published
25 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

20 January 2020

Incident Code

USYEMTr217

Location

Special Forces School Mosque, Ma'rib, Yemen
US drone strikes targeted what was described as the government 'Central Security' headquarters in Marib governorate, killing "terrorist" individuals, on the evening of January 20th 2020, according to a number of local language social media sources. Other sources also reported that a military base, the "third military zone", was targeted, with some assigning responsibility for…

Summary

Published
20 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Airstrike and/or Artillery
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2–3 January, 2020

Incident Code

USYEMTr216

Location

الجراف/حدة, Al Jarf/Hadda, Sana'a, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly targeted Abdul Reza Shahlai, an Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Qods Force commander in Sana'a, overnight from January 2nd-3rd 2020. While initial reports suggested that Shahlai had been killed in the strike, official sources later indicated that he had survived. There was some indication that another Iranian soldier was killed, however.…

Summary

Published
2 January 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

7 December 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr215

Location

Arqoub, Abyan, Yemen
A few local-language Twitter sources suggested, on December 7th 2019, that US drone strikes had targeted "Muslim Brotherhood" militias, also described as "terrorists", in the mountains of Al Arqoub in Abyan governorate. No other known sources reported US strikes, and there was no known information on alleged casualties. The first known report of the strikes,…

Summary

Published
7 December 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

1 November 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr214-C

Location

ريدان بالقرب من جبل الكنائس, Raidan, in the vicinity of Jabal Al Kaneas, Ma'rib, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly killed at least two alleged AQAP militants, including a leadership figure, in Raidan village, in the Al Kanaes area of Marib governorate, on November 1st 2019. One source, @AlkaramaHR, instead appeared to suggest that those killed were civilians, unaffiliated with AQAP. On January 2nd 2020, US Central Command told New…

Summary

Published
1 November 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

24 September 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr213

Location

الأحمر, جبل سقاه, Al Ahmar camps, Jabal Sakah, Shabwa, Yemen
Two local-language Twitter sources reported that US drone strikes targeted "terrorist groups" in "Al-Ahmar camps" in the Azan and Al Houta area, Shabwa governorate.  No other known sources alleged US strikes, and no information was available on casualties. There were no known reports of civilian harm. Since the first known report of this event, from…

Summary

Published
24 September 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident