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

22 March 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr158

Location

Al Rawda, Ma'rib, Yemen
At least five alleged AQAP militants were reportedly killed by a US drone strike that targeted a house in the Rawdah area, south of Marib city, early on March 22nd 2018.  There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Yemeni tribal leaders told Associated Press that seven had been killed in the strike. Several…

Summary

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

Incident Date

18 March 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr157

Location

حصون آل جلال, Al Husn Al Jalal, Ma'rib, Yemen
At least one alleged AQAP militant was reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Husn Al Jalal, in the Wadi Obeida area of Marib governorate, on the evening of March 18th  2018. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Several local-language sources, including Hadramout21 and Al-Mashhad Al-Araby, indicated that the strike…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 March 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr156

Location

الهدي, Al Hudhi, Hadramaut, Yemen
A US strike took place in Hadhramout governorate on March 13th 2018, a US Central Command spokesperson later told the Long War Journal. Two sources, @yemencurrent and @Dr_E_Kendall, reported at the time that a US drone strike had killed two alleged AQAP militants in Al Hudhi, in Hadhramout governorate, according to a pro-AQAP feed. The…

Summary

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

Incident Date

8–9 March, 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr155-C

Location

على الحدود بين مديرية خب و الشعف و مديرية العبر, At the border between Khab wa Ash Sha'f the and the Al Abr district , Hadramaut, Yemen
Six civilians, including a teenage boy, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike while driving in the border region between Al-Jawf and Hadramout governorates, at around 3pm on March 8th 2018. The Yemeni Minister of Human Rights, Mohamed Askar, condemned the attack as "extrajudicial killings". A US Central Command spokesperson later told the Long…

Summary

Published
8 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

7 March 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr154-C

Location

الهدي, Al Hudhi, Hadramaut, Yemen
One civilian was reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Hudhi, Hadhramout, at around 5pm on March 7th 2018, "a member of his family and independent observers" told The Intercept. Saleh al-Wuhair was reportedly killed as he stood on a hill in the area, looking for a mobile phone signal. No other known…

Summary

Published
7 March 2018
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

6 March 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr153

Location

Al Abr District , Hadramaut, Yemen
News agency Xinhua reported that according to a local security official, a US drone strike had killed four alleged AQAP militants in Al Abr, in Hadhramout governorate, on March 6th 2018. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. A second source, Mosnad News, published on March 6th, also reported that a US strike…

Summary

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