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

21 December 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi031

Location

مدينة الدريهمي في محافظة الحديدة, Ad-Duraihimi, Al-Hudaydah, Yemen
On December 21st, 2024 four children were reportedly injured when a previously unexploded ordinance detonated in Ad-Duraihimi City in Al-Hudaydah Governorate, Yemen. Some sources reported that the munition was "left behind by the US-Saudi aggression", with others writing that the ordinance was planted by the "Houthi militias". On December 25th, 2024, the Human Rights Office,…

Summary

Published
24 March 2025
Strike Type
Ground operation
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

28 November 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi027

Location

مديرية باجل، محافظة الحديدة, Bajel District, Al-Hudaydah, Yemen
At around 5:20 PM on November 28th, 2024, two alleged American airstrikes hit the Bajel District in Al-Hodeida Governorate in Western Yemen. The strikes reportedly injured at least one civilian, Tareq Sufiany, who was at one point trapped under the rubble of a building that was reportedly struck. A video shared to Facebook by Zahir…

Summary

Published
24 March 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
UK Military, U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

4 October 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi025

Location

ذمار, Dhamar, Dhamar, Yemen
At least three people were reported injured after alleged US-UK airstrikes on Dhamar city during the evening of 4 October, 2024. While the Yemeni Ministry of Health, referenced by several sources, alleged four injured, Al Araby TV reported that “4 [were] wounded in US-British raids, 3 of them in Dhamar”, implying that only three people…

Summary

Published
4 October 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
UK Military, U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

4 October 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi026

Location

الكثيب في الحديدة، صَنْعَاء‎، مطار الحديدة الدولي، ذمار‎, Al-Katheeb area in Hodeidah, Sana'a, Hodeidah International Airport, Dhamar Governorate, Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Dhamar governorates, Yemen
Multiple locations in Yemen were struck by US-UK airstrikes on 4 October, 2024; the strikes were reported to have injured four people, according to the Ministry of Health as communicated by local sources. The strikes reportedly hit Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Dhamar governorates, according to multiple local sources. One of the strikes was reportedly targeting "a…

Summary

Published
4 October 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
UK Military, U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

10 September 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi023

Location

جوار مدرسة عائشة للبنات، الجند، تعز, Vicinity of Aisha school, Al-Jund area, Taiz, Yemen
On Tuesday, 10th September 2024, at least two girls were killed and 17 others injured in alleged UK-US airstrikes at the Umm Al-Mu'minin Aisha School in Al-Jund area, Taiz District, Yemen. Local sources reported that two female students from the Umm Al-Mu'minin Aisha School for girls were killed during the incident: Hamas Abdullah Abedalsalam who was…

Summary

Published
10 October 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5–17
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

13 June 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi022

Location

مديرية الجبين، ريمة, Al-Jabin District, Raymah, Yemen
Two airstrikes allegedly conducted by the US military, possibly with the support of the UK military, injured up to nine civilians and killed two others shortly before 2:40 PM on Thursday, June 13th, 2024, at a radio building in the government complex in Al-Jabin (Jubain) District, Raymah Governorate, western Yemen. According to Facebook user Nabil,…

Summary

Published
10 October 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Media (Radio Station)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5–9
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces, UK Military
View Incident