U.S. military operations killed 153 civilians last year, Pentagon says

The Pentagon has officially confirmed that U.S. military operations resulted in the deaths of 153 civilians and injured over 240 people in 2025. The newly released tally attributes all these casualties to three airstrikes conducted in Yemen.

These strikes were part of Operation Rough Rider, aimed at targeting Iran-backed Houthi militia groups to prevent attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. The report indicates that between March and May 2025, specific strikes near Sanaa, Ras Isa Port, and Saada likely killed five, 80, and 68 civilians, respectively. The military based these assessments on U.S. intelligence, imagery, and public reporting, rather than site visits or interviews.

Notably, the Pentagon's report does not include casualties from separate, controversial strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific seas, which occurred in late 2025 and early 2026. The Trump administration considers these boat strikes, targeting alleged drug traffickers, as actions against terrorist groups. However, some legal experts question the legality of these strikes.

The report, submitted to Congress, comes after reductions in offices focused on mitigating civilian casualties during Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's tenure. Airwars, an independent monitor, reported a higher potential number of civilian deaths for Operation Rough Rider last year. The Pentagon is still assessing other incidents in Yemen reported by NGOs.