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

443 – 642

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
424
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
539 – 824
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S. Forces actions in Yemen.
152 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
443 – 642
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S. Forces
97 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
39 – 52
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
30 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
57 – 130
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
25 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

23 May 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr084-C

Location

النجاد العذلان, Al Nijad Al Adhlan, Ma'rib, Yemen
Up to five civilians, including a fifteen-year-old boy and man over the age of 70, were reportedly killed in a US special forces ground operation in Al Khthala village, in the Al Jubah area of Marib governorate, beginning at around 1am on May 23rd 2017, though official US accounts of the raid claimed that there…

Summary

Published
23 May 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2–12
Civilians reported injured
2–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

23 May 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr085

Location

البديع, Al Buday, Al Bayda, Yemen
US airstrikes reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants in the Badi Al Awad district of Bayda governorate at around 3am on May 23rd 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Several sources, including Yemeni security officials spoken with by the Associated Press, suggested that actions by US drones and helicopter gunships took place…

Summary

Published
23 May 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

8 May 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr083

Location

صحن الجن, Sahn Al Jin, Ma'rib, Yemen
Multiple local language sources reported that US airstrikes targeted alleged AQAP militants with "phosphorous bombs" near Sahn Al Jin, in Marib governorate, on May 8th 2017. Though most sources assigned responsibility to the US, two social media sources instead asserted that Saudi Arabian forces were responsible, leading Airwars to assess this event as Contested. There…

Summary

Published
8 May 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Incendiary
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

30 April 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr082

Location

المدارة, Al Madara, Abyan, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly targeted alleged AQAP militants near Al Madara village, in the Mudiyah district of Abyan governorate, late on April 30th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Multiple social-media sources, including @WeenAlEnfigar and @BaFana3, reported that US drones were seen flying in the area at the time, and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

30 April 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr081-C

Location

الجيف, Al Jayf, Ma'rib, Yemen
In an email to The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, US Central Command stated that a strike had targeted four "AQAP terrorists" in Marib governorate on April 29th 2017. This confirmed reports that a US drone strike had killed at least two alleged AQAP militants in Al Jayf area, Al Jubah district of Marib governorate, early…

Summary

Published
30 April 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

29 April 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr080

Location

تمورة ,شرق الغرير, Tamoura, east of Ghurair, Shabwa, Yemen
In an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, US Central Command confirmed that a strike had targeted three "AQAP terrorists" in Shabwa on April 29th. This confirmed earlier reports that a US drone strike had killed at least two alleged AQAP militants travelling in a Vitara car in the Tamoura area, in the Al…

Summary

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