US Forces in Yemen

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

Belligerent
US Forces
Country
Yemen
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Strike Status
Strike Type
Infrastructure

Incident date

January 19, 2013

Incident Code

USYEM142-N

LOCATION

وادي عبيدة, Wadi Abida, Ma'rib, Yemen

On January 19th 2013, between 7 and 10:30 pm, the first of three alleged US drone strikes in the Wadi Abidah region in al-Hatik in Marib struck an orange farm in the populated Al-Masil area in Al Dsaleel, Ra’ed Fadi Abdullah. There were no reported casualties, civilian or militant but according to eyewitnesses, the strike

Summary

First published
January 19, 2013
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Geolocation
Neighbourhood/area
View Incident

Incident date

May 14, 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr166-C

LOCATION

وادي الخورة, Wadi Khora, Shabwa, Yemen

At least two men were reportedly killed by a US drone strike in Wadi Khora, Merkhat area of Shabwa governorate, overnight from May 14th-15th 2018. Though most sources suggested that those killed were AQAP militants, a brother of one of the dead denied to Associated Press that either were members of AQAP or ISIS. A

Summary

First published
May 14, 2018
Last updated
May 12, 2025
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Car, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
(1–2 men)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
2 named
Belligerents reported killed
1–4
View Incident

Incident date

March 5, 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr038-C

LOCATION

يكلا, Yakla, Al Bayda, Yemen

Several sources reported that brothers Ahmad Abdullah Muhammad Al-Sanbahi Al-Khubezi, aged twelve, and Muhammad Abdullah Muhammad Al-Sanbahi Al-Khubezi, aged ten, were killed by a US strike in Yakla, in the Qifah area of Bayda governorate, overnight from March 5th to March 6th. According to Hunaradaa, local residents said that an older brother, Omar, survived the

Summary

First published
March 5, 2017
Last updated
May 12, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Car, Road, Transportation, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 7
(2 children)
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
2 named, 1 familiy identified
Belligerents reported killed
0–5
View Incident

Incident date

August 8, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM119-C

LOCATION

القطن, Al Qotn, Hadramaut, Yemen

On the 8th of August 2012, multiple drone or air strikes, allegedly by either Yemeni or US authorities, killed one person just before dawn in Al Qotn in the Hahdramaut Province. It remains unclear whether the person killed was a civilian or not. @YRMC_S and @AdenOnline reported one person killed while @BaFana3 reported that a

Summary

First published
August 8, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Geolocation
Town
Belligerents reported killed
0–1
View Incident

Incident date

March 30, 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250330a

LOCATION

قرية القابل منطقة جدر بمديرية بني الحارث, Al-Qabil, Jadr area, Bani Al-Harith district, Sanaa, Yemen

At least one person was reported killed and five wounded after alleged US airstrikes on the village of Al-Qabil in the Jadr area of Bani al-Harith, Sanaa, Yemen on 30 March 2025. Though most sources – including the Ministry of Health spokesperson – stated one person had been killed, Facebook user Alyaa Badel reported plural

Summary

First published
March 30, 2025
Last updated
April 16, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
Civilians reported injured
5
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Geolocation
Village
View Incident

Incident date

August 1, 2011

Incident Code

USYEM026-B

LOCATION

مديرية زنجبار, Al-Khamila, Abyan, Yemen

Three drone strikes taking place on August 1st 2011, allegedly by US drones or Yemeni airplanes, killed up to 16 suspected Al Qaeda fighters and wounded up to 32 others in various areas of Zinjibar according to military officials. One report stated that the drones were acting in conjunction with the Yemeni government, but the

Summary

First published
August 1, 2011
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
13–16
Belligerents reported injured
17–32
View Incident

Incident date

April 23, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM067-B

LOCATION

لودر, Lawdar, Abyan, Yemen

On 23rd April 2012, at 10:30 am, the Yemen army and/or US military allegedly conducted a strike in Loder, Abyan province killing between four to 17 suspected AQAP militants, with some sources attributing the militant deaths to artillery bombardment. There are currently no known reports of civilian harm. Bikyamasr reported that the strike was carried

Summary

First published
April 23, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
4–17
View Incident

Incident date

July 23, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM113-B

LOCATION

المحفد, Mahfad, Abyan, Yemen

On the night of July 23rd 2012 around 11pm, alleged US or Yemeni warplanes launched two strikes against two supposed Al Qaeda hideouts in the al-Mahfad district in the south of the Abyan Province; five alleged Al Qaeda militants were killed in these strikes according to the Associated Press. Local twitter users and a local

Summary

First published
July 23, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
0
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, Yemeni Air Force
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
5
View Incident

Incident date

December 12, 2013

Incident Code

USYEM177-C

LOCATION

ٱلْبَيْضَاء‎, Al-Bayda Governorate, Yemen

On Thursday 12th December 2013, at around 4:30 in the afternoon, an alleged US drone launched between two to four missiles at a wedding procession which killed between 11 to 18 civilians and injured between seven to 110 in Radaa in al-Durrah, al Bayda, Yemen. The wedding convoy was reportedly returning from Al-Basier in the

Summary

First published
December 12, 2013
Last updated
May 22, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Car, Truck, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11 – 15
(11–12 men)
Civilians reported injured
7–110
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
24 named, 2 families identified
Geolocation
Province/governorate
Belligerents reported killed
2–4
Belligerents reported injured
0–2
View Incident

Incident date

June 14, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM103-N

LOCATION

عزان, Azzan, Shabwa, Yemen

The Yemen Times reported a US drone strike hit Azzan in Shabwa province, described as AQAP’s “last stronghold” in the province, on June 14, 2012. The reporter Ali Saeed subsequently told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism via email that the strike came on Thursday evening. Casualty figures were unknown he added, because “the army has

Summary

First published
June 14, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
No
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
View Incident

Incident date

December 17, 2009

Incident Code

USYEM002-C

LOCATION

المعجلة, Al Majala, Abyan, Yemen

At least forty-seven civilians, including at least twenty-two children and twelve women, were reportedly killed after a US cruise-missile strike targeted an alleged AQAP training camp on the edge of Al-Majala village, Mahfad district of Abyan governorate, at around 6 AM on December 17th 2009. This was the first known strike in Yemen approved by

Summary

First published
December 17, 2009
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
47 – 64
(22–23 children12–17 women11–19 men)
Civilians reported injured
23–88
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Known belligerent
US Forces
Known target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
62 named, 11 families identified
Geolocation
Village
Belligerents reported killed
6–24
Belligerents reported injured
4
View Incident

Incident date

February 24, 2024

Incident Code

USYEMBi016

LOCATION

حي صوفان, Sofan, Sana'a, Yemen

Two civilians were injured by an alleged US-UK strike on the Sofan neighborhood of Sana’a on February 24, 2024. Abdullah Ahmad Obaidi Al Rabi’i posted on Facebook that “on my way back home in the Sofan neighborhood, I encountered this missile strike by the American-British aggression occurring dozens of meters away in a densely populated

Summary

First published
February 24, 2024
Last updated
May 9, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Agriculture, Factory
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerents
US Forces, UK Military
Geolocation
Neighbourhood/area
View Incident

Incident date

April 13, 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250413a

LOCATION

بجوار مصنع الصواري للسيراميك، متنة، منطقة بني مطر, Al-Sawari Ceramics Factory, Matnah, Bani Matar District, Sanaa, Yemen

At least three civilians were killed and between 10 and 29 others were injured by alleged US airstrikes on a factory in the Matna area in Bani Matar, Sanaa, Yemen on April 13th, 2025. Initial reporting from the Yemeni Ministry of Health, quoted by @TvAlmasirah and Al Moaeed Abd al Bari, stated that two people

Summary

First published
May 2, 2025
Last updated
May 14, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Ambulance, Healthcare, Warehouse
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 7
(2–3 men)
Civilians reported injured
10–29
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Named victims
3 named
Geolocation
Nearby landmark
Belligerents reported killed
1
View Incident