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

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

30–31 May, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi019

Location

Vicinity of Al-Thawra Hospital, Al-Hudaydah, Al-Hudaydah, Yemen
مستشفى الثورة العام، الحديدة
Around midnight on May 30th-May 31st, 2024, at least two civilians were killed and up to 18 civilians were injured, including journalists, as a result of declared US-UK airstrikes on the Hudaydah Radio building located in front of Al-Thawra Hospital in Al Hudayah, Yemen. Four attacks that had been allegedly perpetrated on the building destroyed…

Summary

Published
31 May 2024
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Incident Date

30–31 May, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi020

Location

Al-Sulayf seaport, Al-Hudaydah, Yemen
ميناء الصليف
Around midnight on May 30th-May 31st, 2024, 14 civilians, including a sailor named Ayoub Abdullah Hassan Zaidan, were killed and 25 other civilians were injured, including one heavily injured sailor, as a result of the declared US-UK airstrike on the Coast Guard building located in the Salif (Al Sulayf) seaport in the Al Hudayhah Governorate,…

Summary

Published
31 May 2024
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Incident Date

30–31 May, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi021

Location

Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
صنعاء
One civilian was injured as a result of the declared raids perpetrated by US and UK military on Sanaa, Yemen, around midnight on May 30th-May 31st, 2024. According to the statement issued by the Yemeni Armed Forces and posted by the Facebook user Murtada Ahmad Al Mahtouri, four strikes on the capital Sanaa allegedly perpetrated…

Summary

Published
31 May 2024
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Incident Date

22–23 March, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi018

Location

Al-Hodeidah and Sanaa governorates, Yemen
الحديدة وصنعاء
A number of civilians were reportedly killed and injured by alleged US-UK airstrikes in Yemen on March 22/23, 2024. The Houthi-run Human Rights Ministry, as quoted by Anadolu Agency and Saba News, reported "a number of civilians were killed and injured" by US-UK airstrikes in Yemen. No other information was available as to the number…

Summary

Published
23 March 2024
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