Pentagon: US Operations Killed 153 Civilians in 2025, Mostly in Yemen

The Pentagon has reported that US military operations in 2025 killed 153 civilians and wounded 243 others, according to an assessment submitted to the US Congress. The report, which was published by US media on Tuesday, said that all civilian casualties recorded in 2025 were the result of three US strikes in Yemen in April of that year.

This represents a sharp increase from 2024, when the Pentagon assessed that just two civilians had been killed and two others injured in US military operations. The jump in numbers reflects the scale of US military involvement in Yemen, where American forces have been conducting air and missile strikes against Houthi militants, who are backed by Iran.

The US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, assessed that the three strikes in April 2025 "more likely than not" resulted in civilian harm, the report said. As of February 2026, there were 15 other incidents in Yemen still under review, based on reports received from non-governmental organisations. These assessments are part of the US military's process of investigating potential civilian casualties and, when necessary, taking steps to mitigate future harm.

The report also stated that there were no confirmed civilian casualties from US operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific in 2025. The US Southern Command, which is responsible for those regions, assessed that as of February 1, 2026, there were no incidents in which civilian casualties "more likely than not" resulted from US military operations in its area of responsibility.

However, the Southern Command's assessment does not include strikes on vessels in the Eastern Pacific that the Trump administration says are involved in drug trafficking. The administration has described those targeted as "narco-terrorists." Since September 2025, US military strikes on such vessels have killed more than 200 people, according to public tallies.

These strikes have been criticised by human rights organisations. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called them unlawful extrajudicial killings, arguing that the US military has not provided sufficient evidence to justify the use of lethal force. The American Civil Liberties Union has described the administration's assertions against those targeted as "unsubstantiated, fear-mongering claims."

The US military says its operations in Yemen are intended to degrade the capabilities of Houthi militants, who have launched numerous attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the Red Sea, disrupting international shipping. The civilian casualty numbers in the Pentagon report underscore the challenges of conducting precision strikes in conflict zones where militants may operate close to civilian populations.

While the Pentagon's assessment acknowledges the civilian toll, it remains unclear whether the families of the victims will receive compensation or whether any changes will be made to US rules of engagement as a result. The report's findings are likely to reignite debate over the transparency and accountability of US military operations abroad.