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

30–31 May, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi019

Location

مستشفى الثورة العام، الحديدة, Vicinity of Al-Thawra Hospital, Al-Hudaydah, Al-Hudaydah, Yemen
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Media (Radio Station)
Civilians reported killed
2–8
Civilians reported injured
10–18
Military actors reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
UK Military, U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

30–31 May, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi020

Location

ميناء الصليف, Al-Sulayf seaport, Al-Hudaydah, Yemen
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Transportation (Port)
Civilians reported killed
14
Civilians reported injured
25
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces, UK Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30–31 May, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi021

Location

صنعاء, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

22–23 March, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi018

Location

الحديدة وصنعاء, Al-Hodeidah and Sanaa governorates, Yemen
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
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
UK Military, U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

29 February 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi017

Location

محيط المخا, Vicinity of Al Mukha, Taiz, Yemen
At least two fishermen, including a 16-year old child, were killed and two others were injured by alleged US airstrikes or Houthi drone strikes off the coast of Al Mukha on February 29, 2024. A tweet from @aalnaasi reported that US aircraft carried out two raids on a Yemeni fishing boat that was sailing near…

Summary

Published
29 February 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2–4
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces
View Incident

Incident Date

24 February 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi015

Location

شامير, Shamir, Taiz, Yemen
One civilian was killed and between six and seven others, including at least one child, were injured by alleged US-UK airstrikes on a telecommunications site in the Shamir area in the Maqbanah District on February 24, 2024. Anadolu Agency quoted the Houthi Al-Masirah satellite channel which reported that "a citizen (civilian) was killed and 6…

Summary

Published
24 February 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Resources (Power Station)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
6–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
U.S. Forces, UK Military
View Incident