US Strikes Targeting Houthis Killed 153 Civilians in Yemen Last Year: Pentagon

U.S. airstrikes targeting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen last year killed more than 150 civilians, according to a Pentagon review. The report comes amid growing concerns over civilian casualties in military campaigns under the Trump administration.

An unclassified assessment was sent to the U.S. Congress as part of the Pentagon’s annual report on civilian casualties. NBC News had previously reported on the findings.

A Pentagon official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said the Defense Department is expected to submit the report in the coming months. The official had no further information to disclose.

Civilian casualties from U.S. military operations have drawn increasing concern from lawmakers in Congress. Those concerns intensified after a U.S. missile struck an Iranian primary school during the opening days of this year’s war, killing as many as 168 people.

The Associated Press has also reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is believed to have reduced the size of an office responsible for minimizing civilian harm.

153 Civilians Killed in Three Strikes

The Pentagon review examined three U.S. airstrikes carried out in April 2025, during the American military campaign against the Houthis.

At the time, the Houthis were attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route connecting to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean, as well as targeting Israel.

According to the Pentagon report, the three strikes targeted areas in and around Sanaa, Yemen’s Houthi-controlled capital, as well as the Ras Isa port.

The three strikes resulted in:

153 civilians killed

243 civilians injured

Deadliest Strike Hit Ras Isa Port

The deadliest of the three attacks was the strike on Ras Isa port.

The attack killed 80 people and injured 171 others.

The strike sent massive fireballs into the sky and turned tanker trucks into burning wrecks.

The Houthis’ Al-Masirah satellite television channel broadcast footage of the aftermath, showing bodies lying across the port.

Why Did the U.S. Attack?

The U.S. military campaign was aimed at Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Houthis had been attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea and launching attacks against Israel.

The Red Sea is one of the world’s most important trade routes, and Houthi attacks there have posed a significant threat to international shipping and global commerce.

However, the Pentagon’s review has renewed questions about whether the United States took sufficient precautions to protect civilians during its military operations.