Pentagon tells Congress US killed 153 civilians in Yemen air strikes

On August 12, 2026, the Pentagon informed Congress that the United States was responsible for the deaths of 153 civilians and the wounding of 243 others in Yemen during air strikes. This revelation comes from an internal Pentagon assessment, which was shared with the Senate Armed Services Committee on Monday. The assessment revealed that the US launched its attacks on the country in March 2025, following orders from then-President Donald Trump.

The strikes were in response to the Houthis' attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, a response that the Houthis claimed was in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The Pentagon detailed several specific strikes that "more likely than not" caused civilian deaths and injuries. One such incident occurred on April 6, when an attack on Sanaa killed five civilians and wounded 25 others.

Another significant strike was carried out on Hodeidah on April 17, which resulted in the deaths of at least 80 civilians. Human Rights Watch has expressed concern over the US's decision to strike Ras Issa Port, a crucial aid entry point in Yemen, while hundreds of workers were present. The report also highlighted a US air strike at the end of April that killed at least 68 African migrants in Yemen's Saada province.

The Pentagon is currently reviewing 15 incidents related to the air strikes. The Trump administration's decision to launch the attacks was initially overshadowed by the SignalGate leaks, which revealed a group chat with 19 senior US officials planning the military campaign. The campaign, which targeted the Houthis, was eventually called off in May 2025 before Trump's visit to the Gulf.

Although the campaign achieved significant damage to the Houthis' military arsenal, the impact proved short-lived. The group has since resumed its attacks in the Red Sea and expanded them to target Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure.