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

Search

444 incidents
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Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

26 April 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr164

Location

وادي رفض, Wadi Rafd, Shabwa, Yemen
An alleged AQAP militant was reportedly killed by a US drone strike in the Rafd area, in the Al Said district of Shabwa governorate, on the evening of April 26th 2018. A US strike took place in Shabwa on that day, a CENTCOM spokesperson later told the Long War Journal. Since there were no other…

Summary

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

Incident Date

22–23 April, 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr163-C

Location

مفقه ,الحزم, Mafqa, Al Hazma, Shabwa, Yemen
Two young men, who pro-AQAP feeds indicated may have been civilians, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Hazm, in the Beihan area on the borders of Shabwa and Bayda governorates, overnight from April 22nd-23rd 2018. It was later suggested that they were instead killed by a Houthi landmine. Local language news…

Summary

Published
22 April 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Motorcycle)
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO), Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

18 April 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr162

Location

مديرية الصومعة, Al Suma'a, Al Bayda, Yemen
Pro-AQAP feeds reported on April 18th 2018 that Abu Nasir al-Baydani and other "brothers" [Al Qaeda fighters] were killed by a US drone strike in Sama'a, in Bayda governorate, according to Dr Elisabeth Kendall, an academic. No other known sources reported a strike, and it was unclear when the event took place. CENTCOM later informed…

Summary

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

Incident Date

11 April 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr160

Location

السوط, Al Sout, Hadramaut, Yemen
A US airstrike targeted an AQAP training camp in western Hadramout governorate on April 11th 2018, according to a later US Central Command statement. There were multiple local reports at the time of airstrikes against AQAP in the mountainous Al Sout area of western Hadramout at dawn on that day, though most sources assigned responsibility…

Summary

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

Incident Date

11 April 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr161

Location

حضرموت, Hadramaut, Yemen
A US strike took place in Hadhramout governorate on April 11th 2018, a US Central Command spokesperson told Long War Journal, one of two declared actions on that date. At least one of the strikes targeted "an AQAP training camp in western Hadramawt governorate." There were multiple local reports at the time of airstrikes against…

Summary

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

Incident Date

29 March 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr159-C

Location

العقلة, Al Uqlah, Al Bayda, Yemen
Four related civilians were reportedly killed, and at least one wounded, by a US drone strike against a vehicle in Al Mandhari village, in the Sama'a district of Bayda governorate, at around 2pm on March 29th 2018. According to Mwatana, the combatant status of the fifth man was unclear. A US Defense spokesperson initially stated…

Summary

Published
29 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident