US Military Operations Allegedly Killed 153 Civilians and Wounded 243 in 2025, Pentagon Assessment Finds

US Military Operations Allegedly Killed 153 Civilians and Wounded 243 in 2025, Pentagon Assessment Finds

A Pentagon assessment says US military operations killed 153 civilians and wounded 243 others in 2025, with all recorded casualties linked to three strikes in Yemen.

US Military Operations Killed 153 Civilians and Wounded 243 in 2025

US military operations killed 153 civilians and wounded another 243 people in 2025, according to a Pentagon assessment cited by a US official, marking a dramatic increase in reported civilian casualties compared with the previous year.

The figures were disclosed as part of a Pentagon assessment submitted to the US Congress. According to Reuters, the assessment found that two civilians were killed and two injured by US military operations in 2024, meaning the reported civilian death toll rose sharply in 2025.

The Pentagon assessment identified three US strikes in Yemen in April 2025 as responsible for all the civilian deaths and injuries recorded in the report.

The development is likely to intensify scrutiny of US military operations in Yemen and the wider debate over civilian protection during counterterrorism and military campaigns.

Pentagon Assessment Links Casualties to Yemen Strikes

According to the assessment, the US Central Command concluded that the three strikes in Yemen “more likely than not” resulted in civilian harm.

The assessment is significant because it represents the US military's own formal evaluation of civilian casualties connected to its operations.

The Pentagon has previously said that its operations against Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen are intended to weaken the group's military capabilities and protect freedom of navigation and international shipping.

In March 2025, the US Department of Defense said US Central Command had launched precision strikes against Houthi targets across Yemen. The Pentagon said the operations were designed to degrade Houthi capabilities and restore freedom of navigation.

At the time, US officials said targets included weapons storage facilities, weapons manufacturing infrastructure, training locations, command-and-control centres and other military facilities.

The Pentagon initially said there were no indications of civilian casualties from the opening attacks, while noting that assessments could change as more information became available.

The later congressional assessment illustrates why civilian casualty investigations can take considerable time.

Civilian Casualties Rose Dramatically From 2024

The contrast between 2024 and 2025 is particularly striking.

According to the Pentagon assessment cited by Reuters:

- 2024: 2 civilians killed and 2 injured

- 2025: 153 civilians killed and 243 injured

- Total reported civilian casualties in 2025: 396

That means the number of civilians reported killed in US military operations increased from two in 2024 to 153 in 2025.

The number of reported injuries also rose from two to 243.

However, the figures should be understood within the scope of the Pentagon assessment. They represent civilian casualties that the US military assessed as resulting from its own operations and do not necessarily represent the complete civilian toll from all military activity in the conflicts where US forces were involved.

More Yemen Incidents Were Still Under Review

The Pentagon assessment also indicated that the review process was not necessarily finished.

As of February 2026, US Central Command was assessing another 15 incidents in Yemen following reports received through non-governmental organisations.

That means additional findings could potentially emerge as investigations continue.

Civilian casualty assessments can involve reviewing operational records, targeting information, intelligence, eyewitness reports and information from outside organisations.

The Pentagon's civilian-harm policy framework includes procedures for assessing reported civilian harm and responding to incidents involving civilians.

Why the Yemen Campaign Matters

The US military campaign against the Houthis has been connected to a broader struggle over security and commercial shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waters.

The Houthis, an Iran-backed armed group based in Yemen, have attacked commercial and military vessels during the wider regional conflict.

The United States has argued that its military action is intended to protect American personnel, deter attacks and safeguard international maritime traffic.

In a March 2025 Pentagon briefing, officials said Houthi forces had targeted US military ships and aircraft as well as commercial vessels. The department described the US campaign as an effort to restore freedom of navigation and American deterrence.

The military justification for the campaign, however, does not remove questions about civilian protection.

The latest Pentagon assessment places those questions back at the centre of discussion.

US Operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Not Included

The Pentagon assessment did not include casualties associated with US strikes against vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

According to the report cited by Reuters, US Southern Command assessed that, as of February 1, 2026, there were no incidents in its area of responsibility in 2025 where civilian casualties were considered more likely than not to have resulted from US military operations.

This distinction is important because the Trump administration carried out a separate campaign against vessels it accused of transporting illegal narcotics.

The administration has described those targets as “narco-terrorists.”

More Than 200 People Reportedly Killed in Vessel Strikes

Reuters has separately reported that US strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean killed more than 200 people from September 2025 onward, based on a tally of death tolls published following individual strikes.

Those deaths are not included in the Pentagon's 153 civilian deaths figure.

That does not automatically mean that everyone killed in those vessel strikes was a civilian. The US government has described those targeted as members of criminal or terrorist organisations.

However, the classification and legality of the strikes have generated considerable controversy.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have described the vessel attacks as unlawful extrajudicial killings, while the American Civil Liberties Union has criticised the administration's public assertions about those targeted as unsubstantiated.

Legal and Humanitarian Questions Continue

The civilian casualty figures are likely to fuel renewed debate over how the United States conducts military operations and investigates reports of civilian harm.

International humanitarian law requires parties to armed conflicts to distinguish between military targets and civilians and to take feasible precautions to minimise civilian harm.

The central question in many such cases is not simply whether civilians were killed, but whether the attack complied with applicable legal requirements and whether reasonable precautions were taken before and during the operation.

The Pentagon maintains a formal civilian-harm mitigation framework intended to reduce civilian casualties and improve responses when civilian harm is reported.

The latest assessment therefore provides an important window into how the US military itself evaluates the consequences of its operations.

Pentagon's Numbers Are an Assessment, Not a Complete Count of Every Death

It is important to distinguish between a Pentagon-confirmed or assessed civilian casualty figure and the total number of people who may have died during a military campaign.

Military investigations can determine that an incident did or did not meet the threshold for inclusion in an official casualty assessment.

Independent organisations, journalists, local authorities and humanitarian groups may report different numbers based on their own methodologies.

The 153 deaths and 243 injuries therefore represent the Pentagon assessment cited in the report, rather than necessarily a universal or final accounting of every civilian casualty associated with US military activity during 2025.

What Happens Next?

The outstanding investigations in Yemen could produce additional findings.

The assessment reportedly identified 15 further incidents that Central Command was reviewing as of February 2026. Any future conclusions could add to the public record surrounding civilian harm during the US campaign.

The issue is also likely to remain politically sensitive because the United States continues to defend its military operations as necessary to protect national security, American forces and international shipping.

At the same time, civilian casualty figures can generate pressure for greater transparency, stronger targeting safeguards and accountability when civilians are harmed.

The latest Pentagon assessment is therefore significant not only because of the number of casualties but also because it provides an official acknowledgement of civilian harm from US military operations in 2025.

 Takeaways

- The Pentagon assessment says 153 civilians were killed in US military operations in 2025.

- Another 243 civilians were wounded.

- The figures represent a major increase from 2024, when two civilians were killed and two injured.

- All civilian casualties recorded in the assessment were linked to three US strikes in Yemen in April 2025.

- US Central Command said the strikes more likely than not resulted in civilian harm.

- Another 15 incidents in Yemen were reportedly still under assessment as of February 2026.

- The assessment did not include casualties from US strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

- Reuters separately reported that more than 200 people had been killed in those vessel strikes since September 2025, based on reported death tolls.

- Human rights organisations have raised serious legal concerns over the vessel strikes.

- The Pentagon maintains policies intended to mitigate and respond to civilian harm.

FAQ....

How many civilians did US military operations kill in 2025?

A Pentagon assessment cited by a US official says US military operations killed 153 civilians in 2025.

How many civilians were wounded by US military operations in 2025?

The assessment says 243 civilians were wounded during US military operations in 2025.

Where did the reported civilian casualties occur?

According to the assessment cited by Reuters, all of the civilian deaths and injuries recorded in the report resulted from three US strikes in Yemen in April 2025.

How many civilians were killed by US operations in 2024?

The Pentagon assessed that two civilians were killed and two injured by US military operations in 2024.

Who does the US military target in Yemen?

US military operations in Yemen have targeted Iran-backed Houthi military capabilities, including weapons infrastructure, storage facilities, training locations and command-and-control sites.

Were all 2025 civilian casualty investigations completed?

No. As of February 2026, US Central Command was reportedly assessing 15 additional incidents in Yemen following reports from non-governmental organisations.

Were casualties from US vessel strikes included in the 153 deaths?

No. The Pentagon assessment did not include casualties from US strikes against vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

How many people have reportedly died in the US vessel strikes?

Reuters reported that more than 200 people had been killed since September 2025, based on a tally of death tolls published following individual strikes.

Why are the vessel strikes controversial?

Human rights organisations have challenged the legality of the strikes, while the Trump administration has defended the operations as part of its campaign against suspected narcotics trafficking and alleged “narco-terrorists.”

What is the Pentagon's civilian-harm policy?

The US Department of Defense maintains a civilian-harm mitigation and response framework designed to reduce civilian casualties and provide procedures for assessing and responding to reported civilian harm.

The Pentagon's latest assessment puts a new spotlight on the human cost of US military operations in 2025.

With 153 civilians killed and 243 wounded, the reported figures represent a dramatic increase from the previous year's assessment. The Pentagon attributed the casualties recorded in the report to three strikes in Yemen and acknowledged that those operations more likely than not caused civilian harm.

At the same time, the assessment does not provide a complete picture of every death associated with US military action during the year because casualties from the separate vessel-strike campaign in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific were excluded.

As further investigations continue, particularly into incidents in Yemen, questions over civilian protection, transparency and the legal framework surrounding US military operations are likely to remain subjects of intense international attention.

US Military, Pentagon, Yemen, Civilian Casualties, Houthis, Donald Trump, Middle East, US Strikes, World News