A US Department of Defense report submitted to Congress states that US military operations caused 153 civilian deaths and 243 injuries in 2025. All confirmed casualties were from three strikes in Yemen. This figure marks a significant rise compared to 2024, when only 2 civilian deaths were reported.
The US Department of Defense, or Pentagon, released an assessment report on civilian impact from military operations in 2025, stating that US military actions resulted in 153 civilian deaths and 243 injuries. This is a sharp increase from 2024, when the Pentagon estimated 2 civilian deaths and 2 injuries from US military operations.
The report submitted to Congress states that all confirmed deaths and injuries in 2025 resulted from three airstrikes in Yemen, part of Operation "Rough Rider" targeting Iran-backed Houthi forces.
The US military conducted strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen from March to May 2025, aiming to reduce the Houthis' capability to attack commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
The Pentagon's report assesses that the three strikes in April last year "more likely than not" caused civilian harm. The April 6 strike near Sana'a killed 5 people; the April 17 strike near the Ras Isa port caused 80 deaths; and the April 28 strike near the city of Saada resulted in 68 deaths, totaling 153.
The 243 injured were involved in incidents the Pentagon linked to the three strikes. However, the report notes the military did not conduct on-site investigations or witness interviews but relied on intelligence, surveillance images, and public-source information for assessments.
As of February 2026, US Central Command (CENTCOM) is still evaluating 15 more incidents in Yemen after receiving reports from NGOs about civilian harm, indicating the casualty figures from US operations in Yemen may rise if these are confirmed as related.
However, the report excludes deaths from strikes against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific Ocean, which the Trump administration described as operations targeting drug trafficking networks labeled as "drug terrorists" by the US government and considered security threats.
These maritime strikes began in September 2025, with cumulative deaths exceeding 200 since the start. Human rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International view these attacks as unlawful extrajudicial killings.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) criticized the Trump administration’s allegations against targeted individuals as lacking sufficient evidence and creating unwarranted fear.
The Pentagon report coincides with the Department of Defense cutting budgets and personnel in units responsible for reducing civilian casualties in military operations, notably the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, established to develop measures to prevent and reduce civilian deaths in conflict zones.
The center's annual report states its permanent staff dropped to just 9 by the end of fiscal year 2025, down from 40, including civilians, military personnel, and external support. Additionally, the Department of Defense proposed further cuts in budgets and personnel for civilian harm mitigation programs overall.
These changes occur under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, who announced a policy focusing the military on increased "lethality" or strike efficiency. The Pentagon maintains that US forces never intentionally target civilians and take measures to minimize civilian harm wherever possible.
The US also faces questions on civilian protection following this year’s conflict with Iran, including an attack on an all-girls school in Iran that reportedly killed about 170 people, which the Iranian government alleges. To date, the Pentagon has not released findings from its investigation into that incident.
Data from the latest report reflect a clear increase in civilian casualties from US military operations after a significant decline in recent years, especially following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. Civilian deaths were reported as 1 in 2023, 2 in 2024, then surged to 153 in 2025 due to major operations against the Houthis in Yemen.