Humanitarian Groups Press Congress to Investigate Civilian Casualties in Yemen War

Humanitarian organizations are urging the U.S. Congress to launch an investigation into civilian casualties resulting from Operation Rough Rider, a military operation against Yemen's Houthi government that occurred during President Donald Trump’s second term. The groups, which include Amnesty International USA and Airwars, have sent a letter to lawmakers calling for more information on how these incidents occurred and what lessons can be drawn from them.

The push for oversight comes after the impeachment proceedings against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth failed last week. One of the charges against him was his role in the deaths of hundreds of Yemeni civilians during the unauthorized war. The groups are now seizing this moment to demand a thorough examination of the conflict's impact on non-combatants.

The humanitarian organizations highlight that over just 52 days from March to May 2025, Operation Rough Rider resulted in an unusually high number of civilian casualties, with nearly 400 reported by the Pentagon. This includes 153 deaths and 243 injuries following three major strikes: one on a migrant detention center in Saada, another on Ras Isa Port, and yet another in Sanaa.

Amnesty International spoke to five survivors from the strike in Saada who have been left with severe physical and psychological trauma. One survivor described his daily struggle with pain and despair, stating that he feels hopeless without medication and relies heavily on others for support due to his injuries.

Despite these alarming figures, there is concern that Operation Rough Rider could become a "forgotten war" amidst the broader push for accountability in other conflicts. The Democratic-controlled Congress plans to focus its oversight efforts primarily on issues like the illegal war against Iran and unauthorized military strikes in Latin America.

Rep. Adam Smith, who will chair the House Armed Services Committee next year, has not explicitly stated whether Yemen will be a priority area of investigation. His office did not respond to inquiries about this matter. Similarly, Sen. Jack Reed’s office, which is set to lead the Senate Armed Services Committee, also declined immediate comment.

The Pentagon's reported casualty figures have been criticized as understated by some critics and independent researchers. The Yemen Data Project estimates that at least 238 civilians were killed and 467 injured during Operation Rough Rider, significantly higher than the official count provided by the Department of Defense.

Annie Shiel from the Center for Civilians in Conflict emphasized the urgency of addressing these incidents: "It’s striking that the Department acknowledged nearly 400 civilian casualties from just three incidents without any explanation about what happened and why. They need to provide clear answers on how they will respond to victims and their families, and prevent such tragedies from recurring.