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

20 February 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr188

Location

المنطقة العسكرية الأولى ,سيئون, The First Military Zone, Seiyun, Hadramaut, Yemen
Two local-language sources suggested that at least one US drone strike had taken place in Hadramout governorate on February 20th 2019. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Security sources told Aden 24 that a US drone flew low over the "first military zone in Sayyoun Hadramout", and attempted to target two "terrorist…

Summary

Published
20 February 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

21 January 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr187

Location

الجرشة, Al Jarsha, Ma'rib, Yemen
A US drone raid, involving two airstrikes, reportedly killed two alleged AQAP militants in Al Jarsha, in the Juba district of Marib governorate, late on January 21st 2019, according to some local sources. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. One source, Shafah, named one of those killed as Ali Nasser Al-Faqir, "the…

Summary

Published
21 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

21 January 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr186-C

Location

جعار, Ja'ar, Al Bayda, Yemen
One civilian, named as the elderly man Saleh Ahmed Mohammed al-Qaisi, was killed by a US drone strike in the vicinity of Ja'ar, in the Al Qayseen subdistrict, Sama'a district of Bayda governorate, at 10am on January 21st 2019. In April 2021, CENTCOM confirmed to the Yemen human rights group Mwatana that it had killed…

Summary

Published
21 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

4 January 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr185

Location

ال ديمان, Al Dayman, Ma'rib, Yemen
A single source, Voice of America News, stated that a US airstrike had targeted AQAP militants in Al Dayman on January 4th 2019, according to a US defense official. There were no other known reports of a strike at that time, and no information was given on alleged casualties. In a later press release, US…

Summary

Published
4 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

1 January 2019

Incident Code

USYEMTr184-C

Location

وادي عبيدة, Wadi Obeida, Ma'rib, Yemen
Jamal al-Badawi, an alleged 'legacy' AQAP militant, was killed by a US drone strike in Marib governorate on the morning of January 1st 2019, US Central Command stated, confirming earlier reports that he had been targeted by a strike in Wadi Obeidah, Marib. One civilian was locally reported injured in the attack - and the…

Summary

Published
1 January 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

24–25 November, 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr183

Location

ذي كالب, Dhi Kalb, Al Bayda, Yemen
At least five alleged AQAP militants, including at least one leadership figure, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Dhi Kalb, in the Quraishiah area of Bayda governorate, overnight from November 24th-25th 2018.  There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Most sources reported that six militants had been killed, though differed…

Summary

Published
24 November 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident