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

2 March 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr016

Location

حصن سعيد, Fort Saeed, Abyan, Yemen
Some sources reported that US forces were involved in a beach landing operation on Nakheela beach, on the al-Maraqisha coast, Abyan governorate, in the region of or near the village of Mogan, at dawn on March 2nd 2017.  This raid allegedly took place in tandem with a reported combined arms operation, with which the US…

Summary

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

Incident Date

2 March 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr017

Location

الخبر, Al Khabr, Abyan, Yemen
One local language source, Aden al-Hadath, reported that according to local residents, a drone strike had targeted a school in Khabr al-Maraqisha, Abyan governorate, on March 2nd 2017. There were no known reports of civilian casualties. On the same day, multiple US airstrikes and alleged troop landings were reported, as part of a combined arms…

Summary

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

Incident Date

1–2 March, 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr022

Location

جسيمة, Jasima, Al Bayda, Yemen
Multiple sources reported that US airstrikes targeted alleged AQAP militants in al-Jasima, in the Qaifa area of Bayda governorate, overnight from March 1st to March 2nd. Mareb Press reported that the strikes killed one and wounded another, apparently with reference to alleged militants. There were no known reports of civilian casualties. The reported strikes were…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 February 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr010

Location

مديرية الصومعة, Al Suma'a District, Al Bayda, Yemen
The Pentagon announced on March 6th 2017 that it had conducted an airstrike against AQAP in Yemen on February 28th, though no other sources could be found to verify this.  This appeared to have been the first action of a serious intensification of US strikes in Yemen through the first week of March 2017. Two…

Summary

Published
28 February 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

2 February 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr009

Location

الخبر, Al Khabr, Abyan, Yemen
Several sources alleged that US battleships bombarded the area of Al Khabr in al-Maraqisha, Abyan governorate, on February 2nd 2017, where AQAP militants were allegedly based. There were no reported civilian or combatant casualties. One anonymous Yemeni government official, speaking to Reuters, said that “ships fired several missiles towards the al-Maraqisha mountains, where al Qaeda…

Summary

Published
2 February 2017
Strike Type
Naval bombardment
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr008

Location

موجان, Mojan, Abyan, Yemen
Some local language Twitter users alleged that US battleships bombarded the area of Mojan, al-Maraqisha, Abyan province early on February 1st 2017, where AQAP militants were allegedly based.  One source claimed that fisherman in the Shaqra area spotted American battleships approaching from the coast.  There were no known reports of civilian or combatant casualties. Other…

Summary

Published
1 February 2017
Strike Type
Naval bombardment
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident