A Pentagon review has concluded that US airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen last year resulted in the deaths of 153 civilians, according to a report sent to Congress on Wednesday. The assessment, part of the annual civilian casualty report, also documented 243 injuries from three strikes conducted in April 2025.
The strikes were part of the US campaign against the Iran-backed Houthi movement, which had been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea—a vital artery for global trade connecting to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. The review focused on operations near Sanaa, the rebel-held capital, and the port of Ras Isa.
Deadly port strike
The most lethal incident occurred at Ras Isa port, where 80 people were killed and 171 wounded. Video footage aired by the Houthis' al-Masirah channel showed the aftermath, with fireballs rising from the port and tanker trucks engulfed in flames.
US Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, defended the strikes at the time, stating they were intended to disrupt fuel supplies that funded Houthi activities. "US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorise the entire region for over 10 years," the command said in April 2025.
The Pentagon review determined that the three strikes "more likely than not" caused civilian harm, based on intelligence, imagery, and open-source reporting. However, it concluded that condolence payments to victims' families were not appropriate, without providing a detailed explanation. Such payments are not legally required and do not constitute an admission of wrongdoing, the review noted.
The findings come amid growing concerns in Congress about civilian casualties during US military campaigns under the Trump administration. A separate US missile strike on an Iranian primary school earlier this year reportedly killed up to 168 people. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also reportedly reduced the size of the office dedicated to minimizing civilian harm, according to the Associated Press.
The US military first engaged the Houthis in 2023, during the Biden administration, after the group began launching drones and missiles at commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The Houthis said their actions were aimed at supporting Palestinians in Gaza and stopping Israel's war against Hamas, though they also sought to strengthen their position in Yemen.
The US-led campaign evolved into the most intense naval combat since World War II, with American destroyers and fighter jets intercepting Houthi projectiles. The Houthis have since expanded their attacks, targeting government forces in Yemen and oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, which backs the Yemeni government.
The Pentagon's review underscores the human cost of the ongoing conflict, which has drawn international criticism. European observers have repeatedly called for restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law, particularly as the Red Sea shipping crisis disrupts global supply chains.
