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

10 March 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

Published
10 March 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Military actors reported killed
20–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

9 March 2012

Incident Code

USYEM047-C

Location

المخنق, Al Makhnaq, Al Zahir district, Al Bayda, Yemen
Ten to 43 suspected militants were reported killed in a drone strike at 9:15pm on al Bayda, Yemen, March 9th, 2012. Yet in interviews, human rights activists and victims’ relatives said "many" of the dead were civilians, not fighters, with at least two named civilian victims and a report of a child killed. As many…

Summary

Published
9 March 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2–10
Civilians reported injured
0–55
Military actors reported killed
10–43
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

30–31 January, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM046-B

Location

الخديرة, Awadh Abd Al Nabi school in the village Al Khadira, Abyan, Yemen
Between three and 15 Al Qaeda members were killed and up to 15 others were injured in confirmed US airstrikes conducted by a mix of drones and manned aircrafts under the US Department of Defence’s control on Awadh Abd Al Nabi school in the village Al Khadira on January 31, 2012. There were no known…

Summary

Published
31 January 2012
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Education
Military actors reported killed
3–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

22 December 2011

Incident Code

USYEM045-B

Location

زنجبار‎, Zinjibar, Abyan, Yemen
Up to five people, allegedly members of Al Qaeda, were killed in an alleged US drone strike or naval shelling on an extremist site in Bagdar neighborhood in the city of Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province in southern Yemen on the evening of December 22nd, 2011 according to local sources and news outlets. One…

Summary

Published
22 December 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Naval bombardment
Military actors reported killed
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

8 November 2011

Incident Code

USYEM044-N

Location

الرميلة, Rumeila, north of Ja’ar, Abyan, Yemen
The militant stronghold of Rumeila was targeted by "five US drone strikes," according to an unnamed Yemeni official based in Jaar. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm. According to AFP: "Meanwhile, Rumeila, north of Jaar, which itself is an Al-Qaeda stronghold, was also targeted Tuesday by 'five US drone strikes,' the same…

Summary

Published
8 November 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

27 October 2011

Incident Code

USYEM043-B

Location

شقرة, Shaqra, Abyan, Yemen
Three militants, reportedly members of Al Qaeda, were killed and six more wounded in a suspected US airstrike or drone strike on Shaqra, east of Zinjibar, on October 27th, 2011, sources said. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm. The strike reportedly hit alleged militants in Shaqra, east of Zinjibar, the provincial capital…

Summary

Published
27 October 2011
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident