While engaged in an unauthorized war on Yemen, the Trump administration has hidden the number of US military casualties from the public, concealing the true cost of the conflict, The Intercept revealed on Friday.

“The administration should be transparent about the number of US casualties from the attacks on the Houthis,” Democrat Representative Ro Khanna told The Intercept, stressing that he is working to hold the Trump administration accountable for its "unauthorized strikes on Yemen."

The ongoing strikes on Yemen allegedly target Ansar Allah, who began launching operations against Israeli-linked vessels in November 2023 in response to the war in Gaza. In retaliation, recent US strikes have hit civilian infrastructure, with local sources reporting numerous civilian casualties.

US forces have also encountered operational hazards. This week, an F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet fell off the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier into the Red Sea. Reports suggest the carrier made a sharp evasive maneuver during an Ansar Allah attack, resulting in the aircraft’s loss and injury to one sailor.

Meanwhile, echoing Khanna's remarks, Representative Pramila Jayapal stated, “Trump’s strikes in Yemen are unconstitutional and Congress must assert its congressional war powers before another service member is injured in the line of duty.” 

Pentagon, CENTCOM withhold casualty data

According to The Intercept, the total number of US military personnel killed or wounded during the broader campaign against Ansar Allah, which continued under the Biden administration, remains undisclosed.

When The Intercept sought casualty figures from the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon declined to release any data, and an unnamed official redirected the request to CENTCOM, later clarifying that "it is their operation."

CENTCOM, in turn, failed to provide a clear response. Officials speaking off the record suggested the matter was under the White House’s jurisdiction, and multiple follow-up queries to White House Assistant Press Secretary Taylor Rogers went unanswered.

Deflection contrasts with past precedent

This deflection contrasts with past precedent. Under the Biden administration, both the Pentagon and CENTCOM have issued detailed reports on attacks targeting US military bases across the region, including breakdowns of more than 150 incidents. These reports included figures on both US service members and civilian contractors; however, casualty data specific to operations against Ansar Allah has been conspicuously withheld.

“Withholding basic information from the public makes it harder for the media to shine light on how these officials are violating one of Trump’s most broadly popular campaign promises,” Erik Sperling of Just Foreign Policy told The Intercept. The group frequently critiques mainstream US foreign policy.

“These operatives apparently hope that by waging a war from the air without constitutionally required authorization from Congress, they can keep the public in the dark about the devastating impact of their war,” he added.

Ansar Allah’s operations real risks acknowledged

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell acknowledged in March that Ansar Allah’s operations posed real risks to American personnel, stating that their attacks on US forces and naval vessels endangered lives. Despite this admission, the Department of Defense has refused to disclose whether any US service members have been injured or killed as a result.

When asked if the Pentagon maintained records of these incidents, a spokesperson responded that casualty figures are tracked at the operational command level, effectively placing responsibility with CENTCOM. Still, no official data have been shared.