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

6 December 2014

Incident Code

USYEM205

Location

نصاب, Nisab District, Shabwa Governorate, Yemen
During the morning of the 6th December 2014, the US confirmed that it conducted a joint airdrop operation with Yemeni special forces, a ground attack by marines and a bombardment to attempt a hostage rescue which resulted in the death of two of the hostages, reportedly at the hands of the al-Qaeda militants, along with…

Summary

Published
6 December 2014
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilians reported killed
8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 April 2014

Incident Code

USYEM184

Location

مديرية الصومعة، ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎, As Sawma'ah District, Al Bayda, Yemen
On Saturday, 19th April 2014, at 6 am, a drone strike hit a open-air Toyota Land Cruiser carrying armed men suspected of being AQAP militants and a second strike hit a nearby Toyota Hilux carrying 12 construction workers. The cars were traveling in the Hazmieh area of As Sawma'ah near the Al-Jorroh family project. The…

Summary

Published
19 April 2014
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
4–5
Civilians reported injured
9
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

15 January 2014

Incident Code

USYEM173

Location

شبام, Shibam, Hadhramout, Yemen
At 10 in the evening on the 14th/15th of January 2014, an alleged US drone strike reportedly killed a farmer and/or an al-Qaeda member, and injured two other al-Qaeda members, close to the city of Shibam in Hadramout Province, Yemen. The identity of those harmed by the airstrike is disputed. Al Hayat reported that Abdul…

Summary

Published
15 January 2014
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

12 December 2013

Incident Code

USYEM177-C

Location

ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎, Al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen
On Thursday 12th December 2013, at around 4:30 in the afternoon, an alleged US drone launched between two to four missiles at a wedding procession which killed between 11 to 18 civilians and injured between seven to 110 in Radaa in al-Durrah, al Bayda, Yemen. The wedding convoy was reportedly returning from Al-Basier in the…

Summary

Published
12 December 2013
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car, Truck)
Civilians reported killed
11–15
Civilians reported injured
7–110
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

7–8 August, 2013

Incident Code

USYEM165-C

Location

عرق ال شبوان، وادي عبيدة، مَأْرِب, Erq al-Shabwan, Wadi Obeida District, Ma'rib, Yemen
Up to nine people, including as many as three civilians, among them two teenagers (16 years old and 17/18 years old), were reportedly killed in an alleged US drone strike that took place in Erq al-Shabwan, within the Wadi Obeida district of the Ma’rib governorate on August 7/8, 2013. At dawn on August 8, security…

Summary

Published
8 August 2013
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

1 August 2013

Incident Code

USYEM162-C

Location

بالقرب من قطن, Vicinity of Al-Qatn, Hadhramout, Yemen
Up to five people were killed and three others were injured following alleged US drone strikes on a moving vehicle in Qatan Valley, Hadhramout province at 3:15am on the 1st of August 2013. There was contention in reporting on the number and status of those killed. Some sources reported that all those killed were AQAP.…

Summary

Published
1 August 2013
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Truck)
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident