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

17 April 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250417a

Location

ميناء رأس عيسى، الحديدة, Ras Isa Port, Al-Hodeida, Al Hudaydah, Yemen
At around 9:30 PM on April 17th, 2025, declared US airstrikes hit the Ras Isa Port in Al Hodeida, Yemen. These airstrikes were the first in a reported series of strikes that continued into the early morning of the 18th, reportedly killing at least 84 civilians and injuring another 150. The majority of those killed…

Summary

Published
15 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Truck), Resources (Oil Facility), Transportation (Port)
Civilians reported killed
84–90
Civilians reported injured
150–171
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 April 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250416a

Location

حي النهضة، مديرية الثورة، صنعاء, Al-Nahda neighbourhood, Al-Thawra district, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
A man was killed by an alleged US airstrike on the Al-Nahda neighbourhood in the Al-Thawra district of Sanaa,Yemen on 16 April, 2025. Online commenters stated that the man was a civilian. On a Facebook post by Sanaa Rohi, comments attested to his lack of involvement in militancy, reporting that the deceased was a building…

Summary

Published
16 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

13 April 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250413a

Location

بجوار مصنع الصواري للسيراميك، متنة، منطقة بني مطر, Al-Sawari Ceramics Factory, Matnah, Bani Matar District, Sanaa, Yemen
At least three civilians were killed and between 10 and 29 others were injured by alleged US airstrikes on a factory in the Matna area in Bani Matar, Sanaa, Yemen on April 13th, 2025. Initial reporting from the Yemeni Ministry of Health, quoted by @TvAlmasirah and Al Moaeed Abd al Bari, stated that two people…

Summary

Published
2 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare (Ambulance), Warehouse
Civilians reported killed
3–7
Civilians reported injured
10–29
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

13 April 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250413b

Location

حي النهضة السكني، صَنْعَاء, Al-Nahda neighbourhood, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
A civilian was killed, in addition to between four and six Houthi leaders and members, by alleged US airstrikes on Al-Nahda neighborhood in the Al-Thawra district of Sanaa, Yemen on April 13, 2025. A tweet from @AlHudhudmag reported that one person was killed by a US attack on the Al-Nahda residential neighborhood in the Al-Thawra…

Summary

Published
28 April 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

9 April 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250409a

Location

بالقرب من دار الرئاسة، حي السبعين، صنعاء, Vicinity of Presidential House, Al-Sab’een district, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
At least two people were killed and one injured in an alleged US airstrike in the Al-Nahdeen areas of the Al-Sab’een district in Yemen’s capital city of Sana’a during the evening of 9 April, 2025. Houthi members were also killed and wounded, but the number is unknown. Later accounts reported that the “death toll has…

Summary

Published
9 April 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

8 April 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250408a

Location

مدينة أمين مقبل, Amin Muqbel, Al-Hawek district, Al-Hudaida, Yemen
At least thirteen people were killed, including at least four children, in two alleged US airstrikes on the city of Amin Muqbel on 8 April, 2025. The strikes reportedly occurred at around 9 PM and at least 10 people were reported injured. Teenager Mohammad Fareed was killed, as was mother Najlaa Abdulmalek Muhsen al-Jabri and…

Summary

Published
8 April 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
13–15
Civilians reported injured
10–16
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident