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

12 May 2012

Incident Code

USYEM077-B

Location

حريب, Desert road in Harib district, Ma'rib, Yemen
Six to seven militants were killed in an alleged US drone strike which destroyed one vehicle as it travelled as part of a three vehicle convoy along a desert road from Shabwa to Marib on the 12th of May, 2012. Al-Masdar Online reported that local residents had claimed that “the airstrike took place in the…

Summary

Published
12 May 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

12 May 2012

Incident Code

USYEM078-B

Location

عين, Al Ain district, Shabwa, Yemen
A possible third US drone strike on May 12th 2012 struck an alleged al Qaeda hideout in Al-Aeen area in central Shabwa, killing at least six militants, reports said. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm. A local security official told Xinhua about the incident and claimed it was a U.S. drone strike.…

Summary

Published
12 May 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

10 May 2012

Incident Code

USYEM075-B

Location

شُقرة‎, Shaqra, Abyan, Yemen
A series of three alleged US bombing raids killed at least two militants and destroyed numerous vehicles in the in the Shakra area on May 10, 2022. There were no reports of civilian harm. According to almotamar.net, the Al Qaeda site in the Shakra area that was struck in the air strikes was used to…

Summary

Published
10 May 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

10–20 May, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM084-B

Location

جعار, Ja'ar, Abyan, Yemen
An airstrike hit Jaar in mid-May of 2012, killing five Al Qaeda militants. The strike hit a house local people said was being rented by Ansar al Sharia militants. Neighbour Adnan Ahmed Saleh told NPR: ‘I got back inside, closed the door, and then the first rocket hit’. The house next door to his was…

Summary

Published
10 May 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

9–10 May, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM074-B

Location

جعار, Ja'ar, Abyan, Yemen
An array of news organizations, military sources, and local witnesses have described an attack by a suspected American drone that killed between five and eight members of Al Qaeda in Jaar in the Abyan governate, located in southern Yemen, between May 9 and May 10, 2012. A local source described hearing three explosions around midnight,…

Summary

Published
10 May 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

6 May 2012

Incident Code

USYEM073-C

Location

وادي رفض, Wadi Al Abyadh, Rafd valley, Shabwa, Yemen
On the 6th of May 2012 at approximately 5:30pm local time a drone strike, allegedly carried out by the CIA, killed up to six people, including one civilian, in Wadi Al Abyadh in Shabwa governorate. A drone struck and killed Fahd al-Qasaa (37) along with at least one more individual in the Shabwa governorate of…

Summary

Published
6 May 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Agricultural Land), Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident