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

439 – 634

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 149 separate alleged incidents.

90 – 110
children likely killed
38 – 57
women likely killed
470
likely injured
421
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
534 – 816
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S. Forces actions in Yemen.
149 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
439 – 634
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S. Forces
95 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
35 – 48
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
28 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
435 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

30 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250330a

Location

Al-Qabil, Jadr area, Bani Al-Harith district, Sanaa, Yemen
قرية القابل منطقة جدر بمديرية بني الحارث
At least one person was reported killed and five wounded after alleged US airstrikes on the village of Al-Qabil in the Jadr area of Bani al-Harith, Sanaa, Yemen on 30 March 2025. Though most sources - including the Ministry of Health spokesperson - stated one person had been killed, Facebook user Alyaa Badel reported plural…

Summary

Published
30 March 2025
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Incident Date

21 December 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi031

Location

Ad-Duraihimi, Al-Hudaydah, Yemen
مدينة الدريهمي في محافظة الحديدة
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
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Incident Date

21 December 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi030

Location

Hadda neighbourhood, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
حي حدة في محافظة صناء
In the late evening of December 21st, 2024, alleged American airstrikes struck a residential neighborhood in the Hadda neighborhood in Sana'a, Yemen. At least two civilians were reportedly killed, and at least four militants of the Houthi Movement were also killed. A residential home, belonging to Youssef al-Madani, a Houthi member who was among those…

Summary

Published
24 March 2025
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Incident Date

28 November 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi027

Location

Bajel District, Al-Hudaydah, Yemen
مديرية باجل، محافظة الحديدة
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
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Incident Date

19 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250319a

Location

Al-Thawra neighbourhood, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
مدينة الثورة في صنعاء
At least nine civilians, seven women and two children, were injured by two alleged US airstrikes on a wedding reception hall in the Al-Thawra District of Sana'a, Yemen at around 7:30 PM on March 19, 2025. Houthi-affiliated news @TvAlmasirah reported on the "US aggression's bombing of a residential neighborhood in Al-Thawra District in the capital,…

Summary

Published
24 March 2025
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Incident Date

23 March 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250323a

Location

Vicinity of Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq School, Ma'in District, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
بالقرب من مدرسة أبو بكر الصديق، مديرية معين، صنعاء
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and up to fifteen others wounded - including five children and two women - by an alleged US airstrike on a residential building in the Ma’in District of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a during the evening of 23 March, 2025. The strike reportedly hit the building in front of…

Summary

Published
23 March 2025
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