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.
Image:
Mabkhout Ali al Ameri with his 18-month old son Mohammed, shortly after a botched US raid on al Ghayil in January 2017 had killed at least 20 villagers, including Mohammed’s mother Fatim Saleh Mohsen. © Iona Craig
Airwars estimate of civilian deaths
445 – 643
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
500 – 849
likely injured
429
named victims
U.S. Forces estimate of civilian deaths
166
Confirmed civilian deaths, from U.S. Forces actions in Yemen, originating from 6 separate incidents of civilian harm.
245 – 233
civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
544 – 829
Locally reported civilian deaths from U.S. Forces actions in Yemen.
153 separate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
445 – 643
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by U.S. Forces.
97 separate alleged incidents
Weak
39 – 52
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
30 separate alleged incidents
Contested
60 – 134
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
26 separate alleged incidents
Discounted
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
0 separate alleged incidents
587 incidents
Incident Date
5 May 2025
Incident Code
USYEM250505b
Location
Airport Street, Bani Al-Harith District, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
شارع المطار مديرية بني الحارث، صنعاء
The Ministry of Health and Environment provided a statement to the Yemeni News Agency (Saba) that announced that a citizen was injured by US raids on Airport (Al-Matar) Street in the Bani Al-Harith District of Sanaa. Multiple sources, including @AlMayadeenLive and the Facebook page of the Public Health and Population Office, Al Hudaydah Governorate, quoted …
Summary
Published
20 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
5 May 2025
Incident Code
USYEM250505a
Location
Al-Arbaeen Street, Saawan area, Shu'ub District, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
شارع الأربعين، منطقة سعوان، منطقة شعوب، صنعاء
At least 14 people, including at least one child, were reported injured by an alleged bombardment on Al-Arbaeen Street in the Sha’oub District of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a on May 5, 2025. While most sources alleged U.S. involvement, one source claimed the damage was due to a failed Houthi missile launched in an attempt to “intercept …
Summary
Published
20 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Commerce, Vehicle, Car
Civilians reported injured
14 – 16
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces, Houthi Forces
Incident Date
2 May 2025
Incident Code
USYEM250502a
Location
Asr neighbourhood, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen
حي عصر، صَنْعَاء
Three people were reported injured by an alleged US airstrike on the Asr area of Sanaa during the evening of 2 May, 2025. All of the sources quoted the Ministry of Health, which reported that three citizens were injured by US “aggression” in the Asr area in Al-Wahda district. Facebook user Earok explained that the …
Summary
Published
20 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
3
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
29 April 2025
Incident Code
USYEM250429a
Location
Sarf area, Bani Hushaish district, Sanaa, Yemen
صرف، بني حشيش
A man and his son were injured by alleged US airstrikes on the Al-Daqiq/Al-Sabah Sardeef neighbourhood of Sanaa,Yemen on April 29, 2025. Multiple sources, including @mashhadyemeni and @alymennet, reported that the US carried out two airstrikes on the Bani Hashish district, east of Sanaa Governorate. Middle East Eye spoke with a survivor of the strikes, …
Summary
Published
16 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
28 April 2025
Incident Code
USYEM250428a
Location
Remand Detention Center, Sa'ada, Sa'ada, Yemen
السجن الاحتياطي، صعدة
68 civilians detained in Sa’ada's Remand Detention Center were killed and at least 47 injured by U.S. airstrikes on the morning of April 28, 2025. The Center primarily held migrants coming from African countries and was believed to be holding 115 people at the time of the strike. Yemen is a frequent route for African …
Summary
Published
16 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Legal, Prison
Civilians reported killed
68
Civilians reported injured
47 – 65
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
Incident Date
27 April 2025
Incident Code
USYEM250427a
Location
Thaqban area, Bani al-Harith District, Sanaa, Yemen
منطقة ثقبان بمديرية بني الحارث
At around 8:00 p.m. on April 27, 2025, at least 11 civilians, including eight children and two women, were killed and four others, including three children, were injured by alleged U.S. airstrikes on four homes in the Thaqban area in Bani al-Harith District of Sanaa, Yemen. @TvAlmasirah provided an initial toll of eight citizens killed, …
Summary
Published
16 May 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential, House, Vehicle, Truck
Civilians reported killed
11 – 13
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Actor
U.S. Forces
13 Aug, 2026
Investigations, Update
Somalia, Yemen, Iraq
The U.S. accepts killing more than 140 civilians in just two strikes
Department of Defense report follows Airwars' strike-by-strike documentation of all U.S. bombing campaigns
ceasefire.org ↗
11 Nov, 2025
Policy, Report
Civilian harm mitigation in large-scale combat operations: lessons for UK defence
Writing for Ceasefire, Airwars' Policy Specialist lays out noticeable gaps in the UK approach to tracking, mitigating, and responding to civilian harm
30 Sept, 2025
Collection
Somalia, Yemen
Trump under scrutiny
Collection page gathering crucial resources on military actions during the Trump second term, and the impact on civilians
trump-yemen.airwars.org ↗
18 Jun, 2025
Investigations, Policy
Yemen
The U.S. killed almost as many civilians in 52 days as the previous 23 years of U.S. action in Yemen
How does Trump’s eight-week bombing campaign compare to the history of U.S. military action in Yemen?
18 Jun, 2025
Research
Yemen
Methodology Note: US Forces in Yemen
Explaining how Airwars documents all incidents of alleged civilian harm from U.S. strikes in Yemen
trump-yemen.airwars.org ↗
3 Apr, 2025
Investigations, Policy
Yemen
What the chats signal about Trump’s Yemen bombing campaign
Ignore the leaked messages - Trump's campaign is far more deadly than Biden's