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

October 4, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi026

LOCATION

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

First published
October 4, 2024
Last updated
March 26, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
4
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, UK Military
View Incident

Incident date

May 5, 2011

Incident Code

USYEM014-B

LOCATION

شبوة‎, Shabwa province, Shabwa, Yemen

Two to three middle-ranking Al Qaeda affiliates were killed and another was injured due to a US drone strike, originally targeting US-born cleric Anwar al Awlaki in the province of Shabwa in the morning of May 5th, 2011. In one of the first recorded US attack using remotely piloted drones since 2002, during Yemen’s Arab

Summary

First published
May 5, 2011
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
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
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
2–3
Belligerents reported injured
1
View Incident

Incident date

April 14, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM060-B

LOCATION

الزاهر, Zahir district, Al Bayda, Yemen

Yemen defense officials announced that an alleged American unmanned drone allegedly struck a car that included a number of Ansar al Sharia and Al Qaeda members in the al Zahir district of Bayda province on April 14, 2012, killing between three and eight militants. The nighttime raid turned the car into a “collection of charred

Summary

First published
April 14, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
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
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
3–8
View Incident

Incident date

June 19, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM107-B

LOCATION

يافع, Yafa'a district, Lahij, Yemen

Three militants were killed when a vehicle was destroyed in Yafa’a district south of Bayda province by alleged Yemeni or US airstrikes on June 19, 2012, local and international media reported. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm. According to reporting from Reuters, Yemeni state news (Saba) reported that on June 19th, Yemeni

Summary

First published
June 19, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
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)
Belligerents reported killed
3
View Incident

Incident date

August 13, 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr096-C

LOCATION

المرون , بالقرب من الخبر, Al Maroun, in the vicinity of Al Khabr, Abyan, Yemen

In an email to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, US Central Command stated that a strike was conducted against AQAP in Abyan governorate on August 13th 2017, confirming multiple earlier reports that at least two alleged AQAP militants were killed in at least one afternoon US drone strike in Al Maroun, in the Khabr Maraqisha

Summary

First published
August 13, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 men)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known targets
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Other
Named victims
2 named
Belligerents reported killed
2–3
View Incident

Incident date

May 2, 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

First published
May 2, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
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)
Belligerents reported killed
10–15
View Incident

Incident date

June 1, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM096-C

LOCATION

شبوة, Shabwa, Yemen

A Yemeni journalist was reportedly injured in an alleged drone strike while fleeing the site of attacks on an Al Qaeda vehicle on the 1st of June 2012 in Shabwa. Only one source, @narrabyee, reported this incident and further information remains unknown. The drone strike could have been a US or Yemeni strike as similar

Summary

First published
June 1, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Geolocation
Province/governorate
View Incident

Incident date

September 5, 2011

Incident Code

USYEM033-C

LOCATION

مشفى الرازي في جعار, Al-Razi Hospital, Jaar, Abyan, Yemen

Dozens of Al Qaeda linked militants were killed and injured during an alleged airstrike conducted by the Yemeni armed forces targeting the al-Razi hospital in Jaar on September 5th, 2011. Up to two civilians may have been killed in this attack. AFP quoted a medical official in Al-Razi hospital in Jaar, who confirmed the toll

Summary

First published
September 5, 2011
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Geolocation
Nearby landmark
Belligerents reported killed
12–24
Belligerents reported injured
12–24
View Incident

Incident date

May 6, 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

First published
May 6, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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
1 named
Belligerents reported killed
2–5
View Incident

Incident date

August 29, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM122-C

LOCATION

خشامر, Khashamir, Hadramaut, Yemen

As many as nine people were reportedly killed by alleged US drone or airstrikes as they travelled through the village of Khashamir on August 29, 2023. Up to four missiles were fired at the village causing extensive damage to homes and terrifying the local residents sufficiently for some to be rushed to hospital with shock.

Summary

First published
August 29, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 4
(2 men)
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.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
Belligerents reported killed
3–5
View Incident

Incident date

March 7, 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr154-C

LOCATION

الهدي, Al Hudhi, Hadramaut, Yemen

One civilian was reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Hudhi, Hadhramout, at around 5pm on March 7th 2018, “a member of his family and independent observers” told The Intercept. Saleh al-Wuhair was reportedly killed as he stood on a hill in the area, looking for a mobile phone signal. No other known

Summary

First published
March 7, 2018
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

April 23, 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr079-C

LOCATION

الضلعه, Al Dhula'ah, Shabwa, Yemen

On April 24th 2017, Pentagon spokesperson Captain Jeff Davis stated that a US strike had killed eight AQAP militants in Shabwa governorate on the previous day, confirming earlier reports that an afternoon US drone strike in Al Dhula’ah, in the Al Said area, had killed eight people. Several sources reported, however, that at least three

Summary

First published
April 23, 2017
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 8
(3–8 men)
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
8 named, 3 families identified
Belligerents reported killed
3–8
View Incident

Incident date

February 24, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi015

LOCATION

شامير, Shamir, Taiz, Yemen

One civilian was killed and between six and seven others, including at least one child, were injured by alleged US-UK airstrikes on a telecommunications site in the Shamir area in the Maqbanah District on February 24, 2024. Anadolu Agency quoted the Houthi Al-Masirah satellite channel which reported that “a citizen (civilian) was killed and 6

Summary

First published
February 24, 2024
Last updated
April 3, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Power Station, Resources
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
6–7
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.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, UK Military
Named victims
7 named, 1 familiy identified
Geolocation
Subdistrict
View Incident

Incident date

March 10, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM048-B

LOCATION

جعار, Ja'ar, Abyan, Yemen

Alleged US airstrikes or Yemeni airstrikes in Jaar and Zinjibar on May 10, 2012 reportedly killed up to 24 alleged militants and nine others were injured, with some sources reporting possible civilian casualties. Although initially reported as the work of the Yemen Air Force, a senior Yemen government official told CNN that the attacks were

Summary

First published
March 10, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
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)
Belligerents reported killed
20–24
Belligerents reported injured
9
View Incident

Incident date

May 17, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM086-C

LOCATION

شقرة, Shaqra, Abyan, Yemen

On May 17th 2012, at an Al Qaeda checkpoint in the town of Shaqra in the Abyan Province, a suspected US drone-fired missile or Yemeni air strike hit two cars killing between three and eight alleged Al Qaeda militants and up to two civilians, in addition to wounding others, according to local officials and residents,

Summary

First published
May 17, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 2
Civilians reported injured
0–2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
3–8
Belligerents reported injured
0–2
View Incident

Incident date

December 24, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM136-B

LOCATION

المناسح, Manaseh, Al Bayda, Yemen

Two suspected Al Qaeda militants were killed and three were injured in an alleged US drone strike which hit a vehicle in Manaseh in al-Bayda province on December 24th, 2012 at 5pm. No civilian harm has been reported. According to Reuters, AFP, and AP, two Al Qaeda militants were killed when a drone strike hit

Summary

First published
December 24, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
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
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
2
Belligerents reported injured
3
View Incident

Incident date

May 18, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM087-B

LOCATION

شقرة, Shaqra, Abyan, Yemen

Three Al Qaeda members were killed and six others were wounded by alleged US or Yemeni airstrikes on the town of Shaqra on May 17, 2012. There were no reports of civilian harm. Yemen News Network tweeted from @YemenNews that warplanes struck two tanks captured by Al Qaeda in Arquob, west of Shaqra. The warplanes

Summary

First published
May 18, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
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)
Belligerents reported killed
3
Belligerents reported injured
6
View Incident

Incident date

September 5, 2011

Incident Code

USYEM034-C

LOCATION

مدرسة الفاروق الثانوية في جعار, Al-Farouq high school, Jaar, Abyan, Yemen

At least one civilian, a child, was killed and four others, including two children, were injured in the alleged US drone strike or Yemeni airstrike that hit the Al-Farouq High School in Ja´ar Abyan Province on the 5th of September 2011. Wafaa Mohammed Ahmed al-Hamza (8 years old) was killed and her father Mohammed Ahmed

Summary

First published
September 5, 2011
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Education
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
4
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
Geolocation
Nearby landmark
View Incident

Incident date

March 15, 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250315a

LOCATION

حي الجراف في مديرية الشعوب، صنعاء, Al-Jaraf neighborhood, Al-Shu’ub district, Sana'a, Sana'a, Yemen

At least nine civilians were reported killed and at least nine others were injured by alleged US airstrikes on Sana’a, Yemen on March 15, 2025. At least two women and two children were among those injured. Most sources referred to strikes on the Al-Jaraf neighbourhood (الجراف) in connection with these harm claims, while one source

Summary

First published
March 18, 2025
Last updated
March 28, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9 – 18
Civilians reported injured
9–18
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.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Geolocation
Neighbourhood/area
View Incident