Between December 2023 and May 2025, US military operations in Yemen resulted in significant civilian harm, according to a new human rights investigation. The findings, released by Mwatana for Human Rights and the Costs of War Project, document hundreds of deaths and injuries resulting from dozens of airstrikes.
576 documented casualties from 46 US airstrikes
The investigation by Mwatana for Human Rights provides a harrowing account of the impact of US military operations in Yemen. According to the report, 46 separate US airstrikes conducted between December 2023 and May 2025 resulted in at least 576 documented civilian casualties. This total is broken down into 224 deaths and 352 injuries, representing a significant humanitarian toll on the Yemeni population. The findings emphasize that these 576 casualties are not merely statistics but represent a profound disruption to the lives of Yemeni families. by documenting these specific instances, the report aims to provide a clear record of the human cost associated with these aerial campaigns.
Stephanie Savell on the 'never-ending' War on Terror
Stephanie Savell, the director of the Costs of War Project at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, argues that these strikes are part of a larger, unresolved conflict.. Savell has noted that "the so-called 'War on Terror' never ended in Yemen," suggesting that the US continues to operate in the region under a framework that lacks a definitive conclusion. The involvement of the Watson Institute adds academic weight to the claims, framing the airstrikes as a matter of international policy and human rights law.. This perspective, shared by the Costs of War Project, places the recent 17-month period of strikes within a much longer history of US involvement in the Middle East.
The 17-month window of Yemeni civilian harm
The data focuses on a specific window of time, beginning in December 2023 and extending through May 2025.. This 17-month period highlights a sustained pattern of US airstrikes that have consistently affected civilians in Yemen. The report, titled "Deadly Strikes, Devastating Losses," suggests that the frequency and impact of these 46 strikes indicate a recurring humanitarian crisis rather than isolated incidents of collateral damage. This sustained activity underscores the ongoing risks faced by non-combatants in the region during this timeframe.
Who will answer for the 224 deaths in Yemen?
Despite the detailed findings released by Mwatana for Human Rights, several critical questions remain reagrding the 46 US airstrikes. The report explicitly calls for accountability from the US government, yet the current reporting does not include a statement or rebuttal from the Pentagon or other US officials. It remains unknown whether the US military will investigate the 224 deaths or the 352 injuries cited in the Costs of War Project's findings. furthermore, the source does not clarify which specific US military commands were responsible for the strikes during this 17-month period, leaving a gap in the chain of responsibility.
Comments 0