U.S. military operations killed 153 civilians last year, Pentagon says - CBS News

The Pentagon formally acknowledged that U.S. military operations killed 153 civilians and injured 243 in 2025, with all confirmed casualties stemming from three airstrikes in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthi militia.
The casualties occurred during Operation Rough Rider, a campaign from March to May 2025 aimed at stopping Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, according to a report submitted to Congress and obtained by CBS News.
The assessment found that five civilians were likely killed on April 6 near Sanaa, 80 near Ras Isa Port on April 17, and 68 near Saada on April 28, based on U.S. intelligence, imagery, and public reporting rather than site visits or interviews.
The tally notably excludes casualties from controversial U.S. strikes on boats in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, which totaled roughly 120 in 2025 and 95 in 2026; the Trump administration says those strikes target drug traffickers tied to groups it labels terrorist organizations.
Airwars, which monitors civilian harm, reported last year that at least 258 civilians may have died in Operation Rough Rider, exceeding the Pentagon's figure, while the military noted 15 additional Yemen incidents were still being assessed.
The disclosure follows cuts to offices focused on mitigating civilian casualties under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has emphasized "lethality" over "tepid legality," and comes as the Pentagon pursues a broader military operation against Iran begun this year.