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 May 2012

Incident Code

USYEM072-B

Location

جعار, North of the town Ja'ar, Khanfir district, Abyan, Yemen
Between 10 and 15 militants linked to Al Qaeda were killed in an alleged Yemeni airstrike or US drone strike just north of the town of Jaar on the 2nd of May, 2012. Whilst Xinhua stated a local resident had claimed that 10 militants in total had been killed in the airstrike, CNN reported that…

Summary

Published
2 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

30 April 2012

Incident Code

USYEM070-B

Location

لودر, Mountains southeast of Lawdar town, Abyan, Yemen
Four Al Qaeda militants were killed by alleged Yemeni or US airstrikes in the southeast of the town of Loder located in the south of Yemen on the 30th of April 2012. No civilian harm was reported. Reuters reported that the airstrike hit a vehicle which killed four militants inside. Witnesses reported a series of…

Summary

Published
30 April 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

30 April 2012

Incident Code

USYEM071-B

Location

زنجبار‎, Zinjibar, Abyan, Yemen
An alleged US airstrike struck a vehicle killing at least three supposed Al Qaeda fighters around Zinjibar in Abyan Province on April 30, 2012. At the moment, there are no reports of civilian harm. The Associated Press was informed by a Yemeni military official that the airstrike was one of many that took place that…

Summary

Published
30 April 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

29 April 2012

Incident Code

USYEM069-B

Location

الجوف‎, Jawf, Al Jawf, Yemen
Three Al Qaeda militants were killed by airstrikes allegedly carried out by US and/or Yemeni forces in the Al Jawf governorate on April 29, 2012. On April 29th, 2012, tweets began appearing from @alshadadi1986, Nabeel Alodainai (@imc_r) and Suhail News concerning the killing of three Al Qaeda operatives in a car moving through the AlJawf…

Summary

Published
29 April 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

26 April 2012

Incident Code

USYEM068-B

Location

مودية, Mudiya, Abyan, Yemen
Three suspected militants were killed in an alleged American drone strike in the town of Mudiyah during the afternoon of the 26th of April, 2012. Both Reuters and Mareb Press reported that the three militants were killed as the vehicle in which they were travelling was struck by a missile. Reuters further reported that local…

Summary

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

Incident Date

23 April 2012

Incident Code

USYEM066-B

Location

نصاب, Nisab (town or district), Shabwa, Yemen
On 23rd April 2012, a suspected US drone strike at 4:10pm hit vehicles in Shabwa province allegedly leaving up to three militants dead and up to three others injured, according to local sources. The vehicles were reportedly traveling from Nisab to Al-Salida Abadan. Yaspr and Almotamar identified two of the dead as Hussein al-Ahwal Lahoul…

Summary

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