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

24 July 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr176

Location

حضرموت, Hadramaut, Yemen
A US airstrike targeted AQAP in Hadhramout governorate on July 24th 2018, according to US Central Command. There were no known associated reports of a strike in Hadhramout on that day. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism noted in its original summary of this event that "US Central Command said it conducted strikes on July 22…

Summary

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

Incident Date

22 July 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr174-C

Location

الروضة, Al Rawda, Ma'rib, Yemen
At least three alleged AQAP militants were reportedly killed, and another injured, by a US drone strike against a house in Al Rawda, Marib governorate, on the evening of July 22nd 2018. A few social media sources at the time suggested that the strike had instead killed civilians. A later US Central Command statement indicated…

Summary

Published
22 July 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

22 July 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr175

Location

حضرموت, Hadramaut, Yemen
A US airstrike targeted AQAP in Hadhramout governorate on July 22nd 2018, according to US Central Command. There are no known public reports of a strike in Hadhramout on this date, though multiple sources indicated that there was a US drone strike in Marib (USYEMTr174-C) that killed at least three AQAP fighters. The Bureau of…

Summary

Published
22 July 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

6 July 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr173

Location

بيحان, Baihan, Shabwa, Yemen
Up to seven alleged AQAP militants were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in the Baihan district of Shabwa governorate, on July 6th 2018. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. A security official told AFP that a US drone had targeted a car driving along a side road in the area,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

4 July 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr172

Location

مرخة, Merkhat districts, Shabwa, Yemen
A single source, Al-Masdar Online, suggested that a US drone strike had targeted alleged AQAP militants in Merkhat, in Shabwa governorate, on the evening of July 4th 2018. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. "The source told Al-Masdar Online that the air strike targeted the militants in the Merkhat area last Wednesday…

Summary

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

Incident Date

30 June 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr171

Location

البيضاء, شبوه, حضرموت, Hadramawt, Yemen
A US airstrike targeted AQAP in either Shabwah, Hadramawt or Al-Bayda governorate on June 30th 2018, according to CENTCOM. There were no known public reports of a strike on that date. According to the Yemen monitor New America: "On July 3rd, CENTCOM confirmed in an email to New America that it conducted two air strikes…

Summary

Published
30 June 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident