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

1–2 November, 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr110

Location

أم فريض, Am Furayd, Abyan, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly killed an alleged AQAP militant, named as Ahmad Masfar Al-Khadr Al-Walidi, in or near Al-Furayd, in the Mudiyah district of Abyan governorate, around midnight on November 1st-2nd 2017. A local source told Sputnik that Al-Khader was killed by a drone strike between the villages of Al-Fareed and Kawkab. Al-Riyadh further…

Summary

Published
1 November 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr108

Location

عيشمة, Ayshamah, Al Bayda, Yemen
A US airstrike killed seven ISIS militants "traveling in a truck in a rural area of al-Bayda" governorate on October 25th 2017, a US Central Command spokesperson told CNN News, one of two declared strikes against the group in the area that day. This confirmed local reports that US drone strikes had killed at least…

Summary

Published
25 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr109

Location

بقرات, Baqarat, Al Bayda, Yemen
A US airstrike killed two ISIS militants "in a parked truck" in Bayda governorate on October 25th 2017, a US Central Command spokesperson told CNN News, one of two strikes against the group in the area that day. This confirmed local reports that a US drone strike had targeted ISIS militants in Baqarat, in the…

Summary

Published
25 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 October 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr107

Location

بين شرجان و ذي حورة, Between Sharjan and Dhi Hawra, Al Bayda, Yemen
On December 20th 2017, US Central Command stated that a strike had killed Obeidah Al-Lawdari, AQAP's so-called Emir of Lawda", and four "associates" in Bayda governorate on October 19th 2017. This announcement confirmed several earlier reports that a US drone strike had killed at least three alleged AQAP militants travelling in a car on or…

Summary

Published
19 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 October 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr105

Location

يكلا‎, Yakla, Al Bayda, Yemen
More than fifty ISIS militants were reported killed in the course of US airstrikes on two ISIS training camps in Wald Rabi area, Bayda governorate, on October 16th 2017, according to a US Central Command statement released on December 20th 2017. At the time, the US had reported killing "dozens" of ISIS fighters. According to…

Summary

Published
16 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

16 October 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr106

Location

العبل, Al Abil, Al Bayda, Yemen
More than fifty ISIS militants were killed in the course of US airstrikes on two ISIS training camps in Qayfa area, Al Bayda governorate, on October 16th 2017, according to a US Central Command statement released on December 20th 2017. At the time of the attacks, CENTCOM had reported killing "dozens" of ISIS fighters. There…

Summary

Published
16 October 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident