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

443 – 642

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 153 separate alleged incidents.

90 – 110
children likely killed
38 – 57
women likely killed
470
likely injured
425
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
542 – 828
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S. Forces actions in Yemen.
153 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
443 – 642
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S. Forces
97 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
39 – 52
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
30 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
60 – 134
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
445 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

22 December 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr128-C

Location

يكلا‎, Close to Yakla village on road from Rada'a, Al Bayda, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly killed one civilian in Yakla, in Bayda governorate, on December 22nd 2017, according to multiple local language sources. Tweets from news sources, including @7adramout_net, @yem_Breaking, and @yemenakhbar, suggested that the strike targeted the car of a Qat seller, killing him as he travelled through the area. No known sources suggested…

Summary

Published
22 December 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

20 December 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr127

Location

وادي عبيدة, Wadi Obeida, Ma'rib, Yemen
Four alleged AQAP militants, including Saudi-born media "chief" Abu Hajar Al-Makki, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Wadi Obeida, in Marib governorate, on the night of December 20th 2017. There were no known associated reports of civilian harm. Al-Makki, also known as Mohammed Farhan Al-Maliki, and by his online alias Shakeem Al-Khorasani,…

Summary

Published
20 December 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

19 December 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr126

Location

الكولة, Al Kawlah, Ma'rib, Yemen
Two alleged AQAP militants were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Al Kawlah, in the Wadi Obeida area of Marib governorate, on the evening of December 19th 2017, according to several sources. On January 10th 2018, a US Central Command statement confirmed that a strike took place in Marib on December 19th, killing…

Summary

Published
19 December 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

18 December 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr125

Location

الصومعة, Al Suma'a, Al Bayda, Yemen
A US drone strike reportedly killed three alleged AQAP militants in the Sama'a area, Bayda governorate, on the afternoon of December 18th 2017, according to some sources. There were no known claims of associated civilian harm. The earliest known report of the alleged strike came at 5:44pm local time from 24Live (@20fourlive), which stated that…

Summary

Published
18 December 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

14–15 December, 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr124-C

Location

يكلا‎, Yakla, Al Bayda, Yemen
At least two women, and possibly two children, all from the same family, were reportedly killed by a US drone strike on a house in Yakla, in the Wald Rabi area of Bayda governorate, on the evening of December 15th 2017. Mwatana later named the two women victims as "Hajera Ahmed Saleh Al Taisi, about…

Summary

Published
15 December 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

30 November 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr123-C

Location

صرار الجشم, Sirar Jusham, Al Bayda, Yemen
Up to eight civilians and three militants, variously alleged to be ISIS or AQAP, were reportedly killed by a series of US drone strikes in or near to Sirar Jusham, Qayfa area of Al Bayda governorate, on the afternoon of November 30th 2017. A Yemeni government source told Anatolia Agency that three of four overall…

Summary

Published
30 November 2017
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential, Vehicle, Healthcare (Ambulance), Agriculture
Civilians reported killed
7–8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident