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

June 15, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM105-C

LOCATION

شقرة, Shaqra, Abyan, Yemen

On June 15th 2012, up to seven civilians, including a woman and up to six children, were killed by an alleged US military, CIA drone, or Yemen Air Force strike in the village of Shaqra, Ayban province. Four civilians were injured and no militants were killed according to witnesses. The village of Shaqra, near Jaar,

Summary

First published
June 15, 2012
Last updated
May 13, 2025
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
House, Residential
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 7
(4–6 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
4
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
Named victims
6 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2013

Incident Code

USYEM149-C

LOCATION

Wald Rabi' District, Bayda Governorate, Yemen

A second possible drone strike on January 23, 2013 killed between two and four militants, with some sources noting that two children were killed and seven other civilians, including two children and a woman, were injured. The Los Angeles Times reported the strike hit two motorcycles – its intended target – and killing the alleged

Summary

First published
January 23, 2013
Last updated
May 22, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Motorcycle, Residential, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
7
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
7 named, 1 familiy identified
Geolocation
District
Belligerents reported killed
2–4
View Incident

Incident date

May 9, 2011

Incident Code

USYEM015-C

LOCATION

الميراب, al Mirab, Taiz, Yemen

Ali Alkhadr (14 years old) was injured by shrapnel from an alleged US air-strike on May 9th, 2011 near the village al-Mihrab. Al-Akhbar reported on the incident stating that the shrapnel tore Alkhadr´s jaw open when he was returning from a family visit in al-Mihrab village. It was reported that Doctors without Borders provided 1

Summary

First published
May 9, 2011
Last updated
May 14, 2025
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
1
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 1, 2018

Incident Code

USYEMTr177-C

LOCATION

الروضة, Al Rawda, Ma'rib, Yemen

A US drone strike reportedly targeted a house in the Al Rawda area of Marib governorate on August 1st 2018, killing four and wounding others. One source, The Yemen, indicating that those killed were civilians: “Today, Wednesday, local sources said that four civilians were killed and others wounded, following a US air strike on a

Summary

First published
August 1, 2018
Last updated
May 12, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
2
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
US Forces
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
4
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

October 5, 2015

Incident Code

USYEM239d

LOCATION

Yemen

code: USYEM239d
incident_date: 2015-10-05
status: publish
civilian_harm_status: Fair

Summary

First published
May 20, 2025
Last updated
June 2, 2025
Strike status
Single source claim
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
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 belligerent
US Forces
Geolocation
View Incident

Incident date

April 5, 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250405a

LOCATION

حفصين, Hafsin, Sadaa, Yemen

At least one civilian was killed and four others were wounded by alleged US airstrikes which struck a solar energy store in the Hafsin area, west of Saada city, Yemen on April 5, 2025. According to @TvAlmasirah, a “citizen” was killed and four others were injured when a US attack in the Hafsin area hit

Summary

First published
April 23, 2025
Last updated
April 24, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Commerce, Shop
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
Civilians reported injured
4
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
Houthi Forces
Geolocation
Exact location (via Airwars)
View Incident

Incident date

September 5, 2011

Incident Code

USYEM032-C

LOCATION

مسجد جعار الكبير, Jaar Grand Mosque, Abyan, Yemen

Up to seven civilians were killed and three to five others, including a child, were injured in alleged Yemeni or US airstrikes against the Grand Mosque in Jaar on the 5th of September, 2011. Civilians Jaber Qassem Salem (72), Hazza Ahmed Atta Baheb, Haidara Mohsen Ali al-Abidi were killed and Omar Qassem (11) among other

Summary

First published
September 5, 2011
Last updated
May 14, 2025
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Mosque, Religious
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 7
(3 men)
Civilians reported injured
3–5
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
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
4 named
Geolocation
Nearby landmark
View Incident

Incident date

April 30, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM071-B

LOCATION

زنجبار‎, Zinjibar, Abyan, Yemen

An alleged US airstrike struck a vehicle killing at least three supposed Al Qaeda fighters around Zinjibar in Abyan Province on April 30, 2012. At the moment, there are no reports of civilian harm. The Associated Press was informed by a Yemeni military official that the airstrike was one of many that took place that

Summary

First published
April 30, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
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)
Belligerents reported killed
3
View Incident

Incident date

August 28, 2012

Incident Code

USYEM121-B

LOCATION

حصن العبر, Abr district, Hadramaut, Yemen

Multiple reports stated that Yemeni military officials acknowledged that a drone strike killed at least two suspected militants, as missiles struck two cars travelling between the Marib and Hadramout provinces in eastern Yemen on August 28th, 2012. While American drones have been utilized in this area, Yemeni military officials did not specify the nation involved.

Summary

First published
August 28, 2012
Last updated
December 15, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
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)
Belligerents reported killed
2–3
View Incident

Incident date

January 26, 2015

Incident Code

USYEM207

LOCATION

حريب، شبوة‎, Harib district, Shabwa, Yemen

At least one civilian, a child, was killed by alleged US drone strikes on a vehicle traveling in the Harib district of Shabwa governorate of Yemen on January 26, 2015. Sources said the victims died when a drone struck the vehicle they were travelling in central-southern Yemen. The combatant status of one of the victims

Summary

First published
January 26, 2015
Last updated
May 22, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
(1 child0–1 men)
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
Suspected target
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Named victims
2 named
Geolocation
District
Belligerents reported killed
1–2
View Incident

Incident date

November 30, 2017

Incident Code

USYEMTr123-C

LOCATION

صرار الجشم, Sirar Jusham, Al Bayda, Yemen

Up to eight civilians and three militants, variously alleged to be ISIS or AQAP, were reportedly killed by a series of US drone strikes in or near to Sirar Jusham, Qayfa area of Al Bayda governorate, on the afternoon of November 30th 2017. A Yemeni government source told Anatolia Agency that three of four overall

Summary

First published
November 30, 2017
Last updated
May 12, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Agriculture, Ambulance, Healthcare, Residential, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 8
(1 child1 woman)
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 belligerent
US Forces
Suspected targets
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), ISIS - Yemen
Belligerents reported killed
3
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

February 6, 2022

Incident Code

USYEMBi006

LOCATION

الكولة, Al Kawlah, Ma'rib, Yemen

On February 6th 2022, an alleged US drone strike was reported to have struck a car with Al-Qaeda members inside, possibly including a “suspected leader.”  All passengers – reported as Al-Qaeda militants – in the car were reported to have been “killed and wounded”, and civilian casualties were also reported of those “who were near

Summary

First published
February 6, 2022
Last updated
May 12, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Infrastructure
Car, Vehicle
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
Civilians reported injured
1–2
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 belligerent
US Forces
Suspected targets
Al Qaeda, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
Belligerents reported killed
3
View Incident

Incident date

May 30, 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

First published
May 31, 2024
Last updated
May 7, 2025
Strike status
Declared strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Port, Transportation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
14
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
25
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 belligerents
UK Military, US Forces
Known target
Houthi Forces
Named victims
1 named
Geolocation
Exact location (via Airwars)
View Incident

Incident date

April 16, 2025

Incident Code

USYEM250416a

LOCATION

حي النهضة، مديرية الثورة، صنعاء, Al-Nahda neighbourhood, Al-Thawra district, Sanaa, Sanaa, Yemen

A man was killed by an alleged US airstrike on the Al-Nahda neighbourhood in the Al-Thawra district of Sanaa,Yemen on 16 April, 2025. Online commenters were emphatic regarding the man’s civilian status. On a Facebook post by Sanaa Rohi, comments attested to his lack of involvement in militancy, reporting that the deceased was a building

Summary

First published
May 16, 2025
Last updated
May 21, 2025
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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
Neighbourhood/area
View Incident