Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

USYEM250408a

Incident date

April 8, 2025

Location

مدينة أمين مقبل, Amin Muqbel, Al-Hawek district, Al-Hudaida, Yemen

Geolocation

14.780864, 42.966369 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least thirteen people were killed, including at least four children, in two alleged US airstrikes on the city of Amin Muqbel on 8 April, 2025. The strikes reportedly occurred at around 9 PM and at least 10 people were reported injured.

Teenager Mohammad Fareed was killed, as was mother Najlaa Abdulmalek Muhsen al-Jabri and her four young children, sons Mohammad Ali Mohammad al-Rawafi and Ahmad Ali Mohammad al-Rawafi and daughters Maryam Ali Mohammad al-Rawafi and Zahraa Ali Mohammad al-Rawafi. Five other women were reported killed, as was a man and an elderly person, though their identities are unknown.

According to a Mwatana for Human Rights, a Yemeni Human Rights Organisation, on April 6 at around 6 PM, “U.S. fighter jets carried out two airstrikes on a home in Al-Hawk District, Al Hodeida Governorate, killing 4 civilians, including 3 children, and injuring 10 others, including 3 women and a person with a mental disability.” As sources collected by Airwars consistently referred to strikes occurring on a residential home in Al Hawek district on the evening of the 8th, Airwars has included Mwatana as a source for this April 8th incident. This will be adjusted should additional information become available.

Facebook user Abu Saqer Al Jabri offered condolences to the “Al-Rawafi family as a whole on the news of the martyrdom of Ali Al-Rawafi’s wife and four children”. Rita Mhm Rita mourned the family “with hearts filled with sorrow and grief, and faith in God’s will and destiny”. Mujahed Shater shared a photo collage of the family – all the children are very young. One boy is being handed a gun, which an adult is helping him hold. The boy is clearly not engaged in militancy and has been unequivocally categorised as a civilian child.

Facebook user Amjad Saleh shared a photograph of Mohammad Fareed, sharing a prayer – “We belong to God and to Him we shall return”. In a later post, Amjad remembered Mohammad as “simply a role model”, someone who was a “rare gem, well-mannered and with strong values”. He was “incredibly intelligent” with a mind “like gold”. Mohammad was curious and hoped to travel, participating in a competition for a scholarship to study abroad. Amjad emphasised that Mohammad wanted to leave Yemen to further his education, as “the type of education he aspired to wasn’t available in his homeland”. Mohammad had told Amjad about his intentions for further study. Amjad was impressed by his dedication: instead of “just walk[ing] around to say goodbye and celebrate with his friends”, Mohammad had “already started studying at a language institute to prepare for his journey abroad in pursuit of knowledge”. He was readying his visa application, and in his free time, would help his contractor father. To Amjad, Mohammad’s future was clear: “This man is going to be something great”. On the day he was killed, he had just finished praying the nightly Maghrib prayer, before returning home. The strike occurred shortly afterwards. “Everyone had high hopes for the boy… Everyone waited to see him grow, to witness his brilliance, what he would achieve, what knowledge he would acquire, and what positions he would hold […] You asked for a scholarship to study abroad—and God granted you something better, greater, and more honorable: a divine grant in His presence”.

Sources emphasised the injustice of these deaths: “Innocent people were killed in the city of Amin Muqbil”. In an early report, Facebook user Yasin al hammed wrote that two people were killed and “13 injured”. It is unclear whether some of these 13 later died, or whether this injury count was separate from the six identified deaths. AJ Plus News reported that the Houthis claimed 16 people were injured while @Yemen_YF wrote that the group later announced 15 killed. @TvAlmasirah later reported that one of the injured had died.

A Facebook page for the Ministry of Health and Environment reported that most of the injured were in critical condition, and that rescue teams were still searching under rubble. A video shared by Facebook user “Ammar Al-Jarb Alternative Account” purported to show the aftermath of the strike. A man can be seen carrying a limp girl, as others carry injured adults.

Twitter/X user @MediaHodeidah shared photographs of the “Al Hudaydah Governor’s Deputy, Mohammed Halisi, and Water Corporation Director, Abdulrahman Ishaq” visiting wounded – two men and two children – in Al Thawra hospital. Facebook user Am osama also shared images of injuries and infrastructural damage. A man, heavily covered in dust and with a bloodied lip, is carrying a child, while another man with a blood-stained shirt is visible. A woman with a blood-stained hijab is pictured in the hospital.

Twitter/X user @TVAlmasirah shared a highly sensitive video of the civilian toll. One man holds what appear to be severed body parts up to the camera, while a woman – likely a relative – mourns a deceased man. Men hold the body of a deceased child to the camera; others lay a child’s body on a body bag.

The anger in the community over the strike was apparent: Facebook user Ahmed Essam shared photographs of people gathered near extensive rubble, hoisting a sign – “These are USA crimes” – above the damage. Essam also shared photographs of remains being wrapped in a blanket, as well as a deceased boy, whose body was brutalised by the strike. Another photograph shows two men, including a Yemen Red Crescent rescue worker, aiming to remove a body from underneath rubble; only a small, dust-covered hand can be seen.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all pointed to the US military.

The incident occured at approximately 8:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (5)

Najlaa Abdulmalek Muhsen al-Jabri نجلاء عبد الملك محسن الجبري
Adult female killed
Mohammad Ali Mohammad al-Rawafi محمد علي محمد الروافي
Child male killed
Ahmad Ali Mohammad al-Rawafi أحمد علي محمد الروافي
Child male killed
Maryam Ali Mohammad al-Rawafi مريم علي محمد الروافي
Child female killed
Zahraa Ali Mohammad al-Rawafi زهراء علي محمد الروافي
Child female killed

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Fareed محمد فريد
Age unknown male killed

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a residential building being struck in the city of Amin Muqbel (مدينة أمين مقبل). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 14.780864, 42.966369.

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  • Imagery:
    @TvAlmasirah

  • Imagery:
    @TvAlmasirah

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • (4–5 children6–7 women1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–16
  • 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

Sources (48) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (53) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tamam Al-Masbahi
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    Source: Sabry Saif Al-Anboub Al-Radfani
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    Source: Sabry Saif Al-Anboub Al-Radfani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Sabry Saif Al-Anboub Al-Radfani
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saqr Ali Nasser Khabeizan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saqr Ali Nasser Khabeizan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Saqr Ali Nasser Khabeizan
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Zahraa Al-Hilali Al-Hilali
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    Source: Zahraa Al-Hilali Al-Hilali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Zahraa Al-Hilali Al-Hilali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Zahraa Al-Hilali Al-Hilali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Zahraa Al-Hilali Al-Hilali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Zahraa Al-Hilali Al-Hilali
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemeni trend
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemeni trend
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemeni trend
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemeni trend
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @MediaHodeidah
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    Source: @MediaHodeidah
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @MediaHodeidah
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    Source: @MediaHodeidah
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: @Alhadath_Ymn
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemen's Pulse
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemen's Pulse
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemen's Pulse
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemen's Pulse
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Yemen's Pulse
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Am osama
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ahmed Essam
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amjad Saleh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Amjad Saleh
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Mujahed Shater
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

US Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US Forces
  • US Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    13 – 15
  • (4–5 children6–7 women1–3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–16
  • 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

Sources (48) [ collapse]