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 DatePublication Date

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

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

4 October 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi025

Location

Dhamar, Dhamar, Yemen
ذمار
At least three people were reported injured after alleged US-UK airstrikes on Dhamar city during the evening of 4 October, 2024. While the Yemeni Ministry of Health, referenced by several sources, alleged four injured, Al Araby TV reported that “4 [were] wounded in US-British raids, 3 of them in Dhamar”, implying that only three people…

Summary

Published
4 October 2024
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Incident Date

4 October 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi026

Location

Al-Katheeb area in Hodeidah, Sana'a, Hodeidah International Airport, Dhamar Governorate, Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Dhamar governorates, Yemen
الكثيب في الحديدة، صَنْعَاء‎، مطار الحديدة الدولي، ذمار‎
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

Published
4 October 2024
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Incident Date

10 September 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi023

Location

Vicinity of Aisha school, Al-Jund area, Taiz, Yemen
جوار مدرسة عائشة للبنات، الجند، تعز
On Tuesday, 10th September 2024, at least two girls were killed and 17 others injured in alleged UK-US airstrikes at the Umm Al-Mu'minin Aisha School in Al-Jund area, Taiz District, Yemen. Local sources reported that two female students from the Umm Al-Mu'minin Aisha School for girls were killed during the incident: Hamas Abdullah Abedalsalam who was…

Summary

Published
10 October 2024
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Incident Date

13 June 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi022

Location

Al-Jabin District, Raymah, Yemen
مديرية الجبين، ريمة
Two airstrikes allegedly conducted by the US military, possibly with the support of the UK military, injured up to nine civilians and killed two others shortly before 2:40 PM on Thursday, June 13th, 2024, at a radio building in the government complex in Al-Jabin (Jubain) District, Raymah Governorate, western Yemen. According to Facebook user Nabil,…

Summary

Published
10 October 2024
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