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

30 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250330b

Location

مديرية بني قيس بمحافظة حجة, Bani Qais District, Hajjah, Yemen
A child was injured and two people were killed by two alleged US drone strikes on the district of Bani Qais in Hajjah, Yemen during the morning of 30 March, 2025. A photograph shared by Facebook user Abu Hassein Shabien showed remnants of a fire next to what appears to be a charred body. Quoting…

Summary

Published
30 March 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle, Residential
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

28 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250328a

Location

منطقة الصرف الصحي، مديرية بني حشيش, Sarf area, Bani Hashish district, Sanaa, Yemen
One civilian was injured by an alleged US bombing of the Sarf area in Bani Hashish District, north of Sanaa, Yemen on March 28, 2025. A post from @alkhabar_ye, along with other local sources, reported that one "citizen" was injured by a US "attack" on the Sarf area in Bani Hashish District. There were no…

Summary

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

Incident Date

28 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250328b

Location

منطقة صعدة القريبة, Vicinity of Sadaa, Sadaa, Yemen
One civilian was killed and between three and four others were injured by alleged US airstrikes on a "citizen's farm" within or on the outskirts of Sadaa city, Yemen on March 28, 2025. A Facebook post from "Majd Al-Madani Saada" reported that one person had been killed and three others were wounded by a US…

Summary

Published
10 April 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

26 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250326a

Location

مديرية خولان, Khawlan District, Sanaa, Yemen
At least two civilians were killed and three others were injured by alleged US airstrikes on a stone quarry in the Al-Arqoub area of ​​Khawlan District, Sanaa, Yemen on March 26, 2025. Houthi-affiliated source @TvAlmasirah reported on "Two martyrs and two wounded as a result of the US aggression on a stone quarry in the…

Summary

Published
3 April 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Resources, Vehicle (Truck)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

24 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250324a

Location

مستشفى الرسول الأعظم لأورام السرطان، مدينة صعدة, Al-Rasoul Al-Aazam Hospital for Cancer Tumors, Sadaa, Sadaa, Yemen
A number of injuries resulted from an alleged US airstrike on Al-Rasoul Al-Aazam Hospital for Cancer Tumors in Saada city, Yemen on March 24, 2025. The al-Jomhory General Hospital Authority of Sanaa posted a video of a young man being treated in a medical facility, with the caption reporting that the man was being treated…

Summary

Published
14 April 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Healthcare (Hospital)
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

23 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250323a

Location

بالقرب من مدرسة أبو بكر الصديق، مديرية معين، صنعاء, Vicinity of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq School, Ma'in District, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and up to fifteen others wounded - including five children and two women - by an alleged US airstrike on a residential building in the Ma’in District of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a during the evening of 23 March, 2025. The strike reportedly hit the building in front of…

Summary

Published
23 March 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, Commerce (Market), Vehicle
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
12–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident