US casualty secrecy deepens as war on Yemen escalates: The Intercept
4 Min Read
The Trump administration is hiding US casualty numbers from its war on Yemen, raising alarm over transparency and unauthorized strikes.
-
Yemenis watch a hole at Farwah popular market, which was struck by US airstrikes, in Sanaa, Yemen, on Monday, April 21, 2025. (AP)
As the Trump administration intensifies its war on Yemen, US officials continue to conceal the number of American casualties, raising concerns of a deliberate cover-up, The Intercept reported on Friday.
Since March, Washington has launched Operation Rough Rider, striking more than 1,000 sites in Yemen as part of its "military campaign" against Ansar Allah.
While the administration has openly shared details of its military actions, it has remained silent about the toll on US forces.
US Central Command (CENTCOM), the Pentagon, and the White House have refused to disclose casualty figures, prompting bipartisan calls for accountability.
“The administration should be transparent about the number of US casualties from the attacks on the Houthis,” Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif, told The Intercept, adding, “I am also working to hold the administration accountable for its unauthorized strikes in Yemen.”
Jet lost in Red Sea as Ansar Allah operations escalate
In a recent incident, a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet fell off the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea during a sudden evasive maneuver to avoid an Ansar Allah strike. One sailor was injured, and the $60 million aircraft was lost.
“This was a tragic accident, and let’s be clear — neither this service member, nor any of the other service members in Yemen, should have ever been in harm’s way,” Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said.
When The Intercept asked for casualty figures from the war on Yemen, the Pentagon deferred to CENTCOM, which then referred the request to the White House.
Read next: Yemen bans US crude oil exports in response to airstrikes
According to The Intercept, this marks a sharp break from past precedent. Under the Biden administration, the Pentagon provided detailed breakdowns of attacks and casualties across the Middle East, including information on both military personnel and civilian contractors.
“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,” said Erik Sperling of Just Foreign Policy.
Pentagon continues to conceal US casualties
Analysts argue that the administration is waging a war without constitutionally mandated authorization. Advocacy groups and lawmakers have emphasized that the lack of transparency shields the true human cost of US involvement in Yemen.
“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,” Sperling added.
The Pentagon has acknowledged that "Ansar Allah operations put American lives at risk", saying, "They threaten our personnel overseas," Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said.
Yet when asked whether the Pentagon even tracks the number of wounded or killed personnel, a spokesperson replied, "That information is tracked at the combatant command level."
Late last month, on that note, the US military announced on April 28 that it will not disclose specific details about its recent strikes on Yemen, citing the need "to preserve operational security." However, officials confirmed that the operations have had "lethal effects" on the YAF.
That said, three Democratic senators, including Chris Van Hollen, have demanded accountability for civilian deaths in a letter to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth. Hegseth has also faced criticism for allegedly discussing Yemen operations via the unclassified Signal messaging app.
