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

30 January 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr007

Location

بيحان, Baihan, Shabwa, Yemen
A suspected US drone strike against a car killed two AQAP members in Baihan, Shabwa province on the morning of January 30th 2017, multiple sources reported.  There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. According to news agencies, Yemeni officials suggested that a US drone had targeted the car in the Baihan region, on…

Summary

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

Incident Date

29 January 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr006-C

Location

الغيل, al Ghayil, Yakla, Al Bayda, Yemen
At least 15 civilians, including at least 10 children and four women, were reportedly killed in a US Navy special forces operation in al-Ghayil village, Yakla region of Bayda province - though the reported civilian toll varied considerably. The US military has to date conceded 12 deaths. A force of US Navy SEALs engaged in…

Summary

Published
29 January 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
15–56
Civilians reported injured
5–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

26 January 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr005

Location

الحرج, Al Haraj, Shabwa, Yemen
A US airstrike reportedly killed three alleged AQAP militants, "including a leader", in the Al Haraj area of Jardan district, in Shabwa governorate, according to various sources. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Critical Threats, for example, asserted that "A reported U.S. airstrike killed three al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)…

Summary

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

Incident Date

22 January 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr004

Location

مديرية الصومعة, al Sama'a, Al Bayda, Yemen
A number of reports indicated that a US drone strike on January 22nd had killed one AQAP member in Bayda province. There were no known associated reported civilian casualties. Reuters reported that a strike against a car in al-Sama'a district had resulted in the death of one suspected AQAP member, based on official and local…

Summary

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

Incident Date

21 January 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr002

Location

مديرية الصومعة, Al Sama'a, Al Bayda, Yemen
There were some unconfirmed reports of a January 21st US drone strike in Sama'a, al-Bayda province, killing up to three alleged AQAP militants. The strike was reported to have occurred in the same general area as a second, confirmed strike on the same day. All but one source said that three militants had died in…

Summary

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

Incident Date

21 January 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr003

Location

مديرية الصومعة, Al Suma'a, Al Bayda, Yemen
On January 25th 2017,  a US spokesperson stated that a strike in al-Bayda governorate on January 21st had killed three "AQAP operatives".  This confirmed reports that a drone strike had targeted a vehicle in Suma'a district on that evening.  There were no known reports of civilian casualties. A number of public sources had earlier reported…

Summary

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