'Unprecedented' civilian death toll in Yemen from US air strikes in 2025
US air strikes on Yemen have led to an "unprecedented" death toll in the country, according to a new report by a monitoring group.
Airwars analysed hundreds of open source civilian harm claims and concluded that US President Donald Trump's bombardment of Yemen has been more deadly than any of his predecessors'.
The report suggests Trump's military campaign has killed almost as many civilians in 52 days as in the previous 23 years of US military action against Yemen.
Trump, who prior to his election had promised an end to US involvement in Middle Eastern wars, has been backing Israeli attacks against Iran in recent days and ordered attacks against Yemen's Ansar Allah, commonly known as the Houthis.
Between the first recorded US strike in Yemen in 2002 until the beginning of Trump's Operation Rough Rider campaign in March 2025, Airwars tracked at least 258 civilians allegedly killed by US actions.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
In just two months of bombing this year, which ended with a ceasefire in May, Airwars documented at least 224 civilians in Yemen killed by American air strikes.
Although the US claimed it was only trying to undermine the Houthis' military capabilities, Airwars said the high civilian casualty rate was increasingly becoming the norm in conflicts in the region.
In just one attack on 17 April the US struck Ras Isa Port on the Red Sea, allegedly killing at least 84 civilians, including first responders from the Yemen Red Crescent Society and Civil Defence of Yemen.
What did Houthis achieve in 18 months of attacks on the Red Sea? Read More »
At least three children were amongst those killed.
Airwars executive director Emily Tripp told Middle East Eye it was crucial not to lose sight of the civilian victims of escalating warfare at a time of geopolitical strife.
"The news agenda is generally stacked against the stories of civilians in war - but how and where civilians were killed in Yemen is so important to understand, especially as the US is poised to intervene across the region," she said.
"The US is one of the most powerful militaries in the world - it sets the tone and the norms of war. If we don't pay attention to this deadly campaign, how can we hold our governments to account in the face of future escalation?"
Trump announced in May that in exchange for the US ceasing air strikes on Yemen, the Ansar Allah administration had agreed to stop attacking vessels travelling in the Red Sea, which it said it was doing in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
The Yemeni group had targeted what it said were Israel-linked ships in the Red Sea since November 2023, and said that despite the ceasefire, attacks on Israeli ships and territory would continue.
Over the weekend the Houthis launched strikes on Israel in apparently solidarity with Iran, who also struck targets across Israel.
Wes Bryant, a US Special Operations veteran, told Airwars it was unlikely the administration had undertaken sufficient civilian harm mitigation measures during the Yemen campaign.
'[For] each and every strike, there should be an equally weighted effort in civilian harm mitigation fitting with all of the doctrine and standards that we already have in place in the targeting process - from planning characterisation of the civilian environment before execution, to execution of the actual strike while in process,' said Bryant, who is also the former branch chief of civilian harm assessments at the Pentagon.
'I'd say [it is] a near impossibility to do the level of civilian harm mitigation we've seen in other campaigns with this high intensity of a strike campaign in such densely populated urban areas with, again, no actual partner forces on the ground and very limited source intelligence on the ground.'
The US also backed an air campaign launched by Saudi Arabia in 2015 against the Houthis, in support of the internationally recognised government, that killed tens of thousands of civilians. The war has largely ceased since a truce and prisoner exchanges in 2022.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Middle East Eye
20 minutes ago
- Middle East Eye
Iran's medics fear 'another Gaza' as Israeli strikes overwhelm hospitals
Even as thousands of Iranians attempt to flee the capital Tehran in the wake of Israel's bombardment, many of those working in essential services have been forced to remain. Healthcare workers, working in a sector already battered by years of US sanctions, face a particular struggle to cope with the hundreds being killed and wounded on a daily basis. Golnaz, a 34-year-old woman living in Tehran with her husband Keyvan, dreads the sound of explosions getting closer and closer. "There's barely an hour without an explosion nearby. Every time, I look at my husband and ask, 'do you think we'll survive this?'" she told Middle East Eye. Golnaz and Keyvan have no choice but to stay - Keyvan, 39, is a nurse and has to show up for work every day. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'There's every kind of injury,' he said. 'Children, teenagers, adults, elderly… and the number just keeps rising every day.' He said the casualties so far have been 90 percent civilian. "The hospital is in a state of chaos," he said. "We're not short on staff yet, and we still have medical supplies and equipment, but there's a growing sense of psychological distress among both the medical team and the people. Everyone is anxious about what might happen next." Imitating Gaza? While Israel has claimed to be only targeting military sites, people in Tehran tell a different story. Afshin lost both his wife and young child in the strikes, which have so far killed at least 585 people according to rights groups. "When I left home that morning, I had no idea it would be the last time I'd see them. I was at work when I saw the news - Sohrevardi Street in central Tehran had been bombed," he said. "I immediately tried calling my wife, but no one answered. I rushed home as fast as I could, only to find that our apartment was now just a pile of rubble." Smoke plumes billow following an overnight Israeli strike on Tehran on 17 June 2025 (Atta Kenare / AFP) In 2018, US President Donald Trump unilaterally out of the nuclear deal signed by his predecessor Barack Obama and reimposed sanctions on Iran under the principle of "maximum pressure" against the Islamic Republic. Although there were ostensible exemption for humanitarian goods, rights groups said the sanctions heavily restricted Iran's ability to finance payment for essential medical goods. Last year the Iranian parliament's health committee said Iran faced shortages in as many as 300 medicines. Treatments for cancer, immunodeficiency disorders, multiple sclerosis, haemophilia and mental illnesses were among those hardest hit. 'Israel has shown time and again that it's willing to commit any crime, but then wraps it in a polished narrative to manipulate public opinion' - Keyvan, nurse in Tehran Though part of the blame has been levelled at the government over allegations of corruption and mismanagement, the ongoing pressure by the sanctions regime has played a major role. A total of $6bn in Iranian assets earmarked for humanitarian use - unfrozen and transferred to Qatar after a prisoner swap in 2023 - have been held up over Iran's alleged support for Hamas in Israel's war on Gaza. Keyvan said he feared Israel would repeat across Iran the kind of attacks that had been inflicted in Gaza, which have obliterated the enclave's healthcare system. He pointed to an attack on Farabi Hospital in Kermanshah on Monday. "Israel has shown time and again that it's willing to commit any crime, but then wraps it in a polished narrative to manipulate public opinion," he said. "What we witnessed in Gaza - the suffering of doctors and nurses - was a tragedy for all of us. We are colleagues across the world." Tehran exodus The Israeli military has been posting warnings on social media, advising residents of certain neighbourhoods to evacuate within hours or risk losing their lives, echoing similar actions in Lebanon and Gaza. But with war-time conditions and unstable internet access, many Tehran residents are unable to even see these warnings. 'I call on doctors and nurses everywhere to put themselves in our shoes and speak out' - Keyvan, nurse Meanwhile, the rush to leave has caused massive gridlock on highways heading out of the city in every direction. Mahsa and her husband Mehdi were initially hesitant to leave but finally decided on Tuesday to drive to Pardis, a small town near Tehran. 'My parents live there,' she said. 'So we decided to go stay with them. But it took us six hours to drive just 48 kilometers. The traffic was so horrible we honestly wanted to park the car on the highway and just sleep there.' Some Iranians critical of the Islamic Republic had hoped that Israel's strikes would only target government leaders. But many now feel abandoned and betrayed. "Netanyahu kept saying in speeches and interviews that they had nothing against the people of Iran, that they just wanted to go after regime officials,' said 31-year old Ali. Israeli attacks reawaken Gulf war trauma as Iranians attempt to flee Tehran Read More » 'I believed that - many of us did. But what I see now are residential buildings, offices, and hospitals being hit. I feel like we were lied to. He wants to turn us into another Beirut, another Gaza.' Iranians don't know how long the war will last. But many of them are just as angry at their own government as they are at Israel - for failing to protect them. A country that hasn't seen full-scale war in decades is now burning, and no one knows how far this fire will spread. As Keyvan and his wife settle down in Tehran for the long haul, he called for the world not to lose sight of medical workers like himself. "I call on doctors and nurses everywhere to put themselves in our shoes and speak out, so Israel cannot bring the same disaster it brought upon Gaza's medical staff to us here in Iran," he said.
The National
25 minutes ago
- The National
US envoy Tom Barrack to visit Beirut as Iran-Israel war rages
US special envoy for Syria and ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack is expected to arrive in Beirut on Thursday to meet Lebanon's leaders, sources told The National, as the region reels from open warfare between Israel and Iran. Mr Barrack – who is of Lebanese origin – will not be accompanied by Morgan Ortagus, deputy US special envoy to the Middle East, amid speculation she will no longer oversee the Lebanon file and will take on a new role within the US administration. Political sources told The National they did not know what message Mr Barrack would deliver from Washington, but he is expected to raise the issue of Hezbollah 's disarmament, a crucial component of the group's November ceasefire deal with Israel that brought 14 months of conflict to a near halt. 'There's a ceasefire that Lebanon is committed to,' one of the Lebanese sources said. "We want them [Israel] to commit also." The source was referring to continued bombardments by Israel since the truce deal was signed. The agreement called for an Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and for Hezbollah to disarm. While the militant group has largely stood down, allowing the Lebanese army to deploy in its place in southern Lebanon, Israel continues to occupy parts of the country and launch air strikes. Israel still has a presence at five locations in southern Lebanon and has been mounting near-daily attacks on what it claims to be Hezbollah infrastructure. On Monday, an Israeli drone struck the town of Houla in southern Lebanon, killing a beekeeper. The Israeli army said it had hit a Hezbollah operative. Finding Hezbollah tunnels in south Lebanon mountains The Israeli attacks on Lebanon have lessened in frequency since the outbreak of war with Iran last week, though they have not ceased entirely, one of the sources told The National. 'My estimation is that the Israelis don't want to mess with Lebanon because they're trying to dedicate themselves to fighting Iran full time,' the source said. Hezbollah has given assurances it will not join Iran in retaliating against Israel. As the conflict between Iran and Israel escalates, Tehran-backed Hezbollah, weakened after months of fighting, remains unable to aid its ally from Lebanese territory. The vast majority of the group's arsenal and infrastructure in Lebanon, south of the Litani river, has been either confiscated or destroyed by the Lebanese army under the terms of the ceasefire. Washington has pressed Lebanese officials to fully and rapidly disarm Hezbollah, a demand Lebanese leaders say is difficult because of Israel's occupation, attacks and domestic political constraints. Ms Ortagus had been expected to visit Beirut this month to push for an accelerated timetable for disarming Hezbollah and its allies.
The National
35 minutes ago
- The National
EU's Kaja Kallas launches evacuation effort for citizens stranded by war
The EU's foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas is leading efforts to co-ordinate evacuations of European citizens stranded by the Israel-Iran war. Hundreds of Europeans have left Israel since Friday by land through Jordan or Egypt before boarding flights back home. The airspace of a dozen countries in the region, including Israel, has been closed since the beginning of hostilities. Speaking after Ms Kallas chaired a meeting of the bloc's 27 foreign ministers to discuss co-ordination efforts, spokesman Anouar El Anouni on Wednesday said that her office was working closely with member states 'to assist their citizens who wish to leave the region'. 'We will, as usual, encourage co-ordination to assist as many citizens in need as possible,' said Mr El Anouni. He added that he could not elaborate for security reasons. Not all countries have chosen to evacuate citizens from the region. Some that would like to appear not to have the ability to easily charter planes. Speaking ahead of Tuesday's online foreign minister meeting, Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris said: 'None of this is easy. The airspace is closed. Land borders can be treacherous.' After the talks, Ms Kallas said in Brussels that she would co-ordinate efforts 'so our citizens are safe'. Logistics support The commission said that, so far, 400 European citizens have been repatriated through its so-called civil protection mechanism, the bloc's disaster-response co-ordination system, at the request of Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Greece. Flights leaving Jordan and Egypt started departing on Monday. Greece on Wednesday evacuated 105 citizens and assisted nationals from neighbouring Albania, according to Greek media. The request to trigger the mechanism was made for citizens in Israel but not Iran, The National understands. Poland has also reportedly moved its diplomatic staff from Iran to Baku, Azerbaijan. 'The passengers lists are basically in the hands of the member states because the people affected need to contact either their embassies or our delegations, but member states co-ordinate the lists,' commission spokeswoman Eva Hrncirova said. 'We co-finance these flights up to the 75 per cent of the transport costs.' While several countries have launched national repatriation efforts, others, such as France and Ireland, have yet to do so. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Wednesday said he had submitted proposals to a national defence council chaired by President Emmanuel Macron to be held later in the day. 'In a few hours, we will have a system that will allow us to respond to many of the concerns that have been expressed,' Mr Barrot told senators. The homes of some of the French embassy's employees in Tel Aviv had been hit by Iranian strikes, he added. Germany has reportedly asked its citizens to travel by their own means to Amman before boarding charter flights to Frankfurt. About 4,000 of its citizens in Israel and 1,000 in Iran have registered on a crisis list, the ministry said. The UK, which is not a member of the EU, has also called on its nationals to register their presence in the region. London said it sent specialist teams to Egypt and Jordan to bolster its presence near the border. 'This is a distressing time for British nationals in the region, their safety and security is our top priority,' the Foreign Office said. 'This is a fast-moving situation that has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning.'
