US Forces in Yemen

Mabkhout Ali al Ameri with his 18-month old son Mohammed, shortly after a botched US raid on al Ghayil in January 2017 had killed at least 20 villagers, including Mohammed's mother Fatim Saleh Mohsen. © Iona Craig

Belligerent
US Forces
Country
Yemen
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Strike Status
Strike Type
Infrastructure

Incident date

March 14, 2010

Incident Code

USYEM010-B

LOCATION

مودية, Moudia, Abyan, Yemen

A night time precision strike reportedly carried out by the Yemeni air force or the US forces killed between two and nine militants in an air raid on a suspected terrorist training site in Abyan province on March 14, 2010. Al-Jazeera reported “Local residents told the Reuters news agency that as many as 20 civilians

Summary

First published
March 14, 2010
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected targets
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Other
Geolocation
District
Belligerents reported killed
2–9
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

January 31, 2010

Incident Code

USYEM009-N

LOCATION

Across Yemen, Yemen

Over a six week period, US Special Forces carried out more than 24 ground raids in Yemen, according to a single credible source, The Nation. The Nation reported: “By late January 2010, JSOC had been involved with more than two dozen ground raids in Yemen, which kicked off with the December 17 strikes. Scores of

Summary

First published
January 31, 2010
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
View Incident

Incident date

January 15, 2010

Incident Code

USYEM007-B

LOCATION

الاجاشر, Al Ajashar, Sa'dah, Yemen

An alleged Yemeni security forces strike or US airstrike reportedly struck two vehicles in Al Ajasher between Sa’ada and Jawf province. Multiple sources reported the alleged air strike took place in the afternoon of January 15th 2010. Initially sources reported that up to seven alleged AQAP militants had been killed in the strike. However later

Summary

First published
January 15, 2010
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Geolocation
Neighbourhood/area
Belligerents reported killed
0–7
Belligerents reported injured
0–3
View Incident

Incident date

January 12, 2010

Incident Code

USYEM006-B

LOCATION

شبوة, Shabwa, Yemen

Alleged Al Qaeda local commander Abdullah Mehdar, suspected leader of the Al Qaeda cell in the Houta region, was reportedly killed by Yemen security forces, possibly with the assistance of US forces, on the evening of 12th January 2010 in Shabwa province, 375 miles east of Sana’a. There were no known associated reports of civilian

Summary

First published
January 12, 2010
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Small arms and light weapons
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Geolocation
Province/governorate
Belligerents reported killed
1–2
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

December 24, 2009

Incident Code

USYEM005-C

LOCATION

أبين, Abyan, Yemen

A second air strike reportedly occurred on 24th December 2009 in the province of Abyan “of which the death toll is unknown”, according to the Swiss-based human rights organization, Alkarama. No other sources were found that reported on this strike.

Summary

First published
December 24, 2009
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Geolocation
Province/governorate
View Incident

Incident date

December 24, 2009

Incident Code

USYEM004-B

LOCATION

وادي رفض, Wadi Rafadh, Shabwa, Yemen

In the dawn hours of Dec. 24, 2009, a cruise missile launched by the United States struck a farmhouse in the Rafdh Valley, located in Yemen’s Shabwa province, killing between 5-34 militants associated with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, colloquially known as AQAP. While there are no known reports of civilians being killed or

Summary

First published
December 24, 2009
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Geolocation
Village
Belligerents reported killed
5–34
View Incident

Incident date

December 17, 2009

Incident Code

USYEM002-C

LOCATION

المعجلة, Al Majala, Abyan, Yemen

At least forty-seven civilians, including at least twenty-two children and twelve women, were reportedly killed after a US cruise-missile strike targeted an alleged AQAP training camp on the edge of Al-Majala village, Mahfad district of Abyan governorate, at around 6 AM on December 17th 2009. This was the first known strike in Yemen approved by

Summary

First published
December 17, 2009
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
47 – 64
(22–23 children12–17 women11–19 men)
Civilians reported injured
23–88
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
62 named, 11 families identified
Geolocation
Village
Belligerents reported killed
6–24
Belligerents reported injured
4
View Incident

Incident date

December 17, 2009

Incident Code

USYEM003-B

LOCATION

أرحب, Arhab, Sana'a, Yemen

US forces reportedly carried out an attack in Arhab, Yemen on December 17th upon a home believed to be the living quarters of Qasim al Raimi (also called al Raymi), resulting in the death of four militants. The strike was initially reported to have included the use of Yemeni ground forces and air strikes with

Summary

First published
December 17, 2009
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Geolocation
District
Belligerents reported killed
4
View Incident

Incident date

November 3, 2002

Incident Code

USYEM001-B

LOCATION

على الطريق السريع 160كم شرق صنعاء ، عناقة, On highway 160km east of Sana'a, Annaqaah, Ma'rib, Yemen

In the first known US targeted assassination outside of a conventional battlefield and using a drone, a CIA Predator launched from Djibouti struck a car in Annaqaah, Marib governorate, on the evening of November 3rd 2002, killing six Al Qaeda suspects. A seventh individual escaped alive, and was later cleared of involvement in an October

Summary

First published
November 3, 2002
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
6
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident