Significant rise in air raids on civilian targets The month of September saw a notable rise in Saudi coalition non-military targeting

Almost half (48%) of all Saudi-led coalition air raids* in Yemen in September hit civilian targets, nearly three times the number (19%) that targeted military sites. This continues the trend seen since the launch of the Saudi coalition's Operation Golden Arrow against pro-Houthi forces in Al-Hudaydah in June. Of the 154 air raids in September where the target could be identified over 70% (110) targeted non-military sites.**



Similar figures were recorded in July with 43% targeting non-military, 19% military. In August 39% targeted non-military sites and 18% military. This marks a significant change to the overall pattern of air raids since the start of the air campaign where almost one third of all targets (32%) have been non-military, 35% military with 33% classified as unknown. In 33% of air raids in September the target was recorded as unknown. ** A rise in non-military targeting may be an indication of increased fighting taking place in urban areas resulting in the possible change of use of buildings and/or escalated targeting of civilian sites. The dataset lists target category and subcategory for each incident, where information on the target is available. When listing permanent structures the target category refers to the original use of the target e.g. a school hit by an air raid is referred to as a school building with no further assessment made on its use at the time of the air raid, or any possible change of use over the course of the conflict. September 2018

231 air raids



↓7% on August 2018

↓ 43% below monthly average



48% targeted non-military sites ↑ 9% on August 2018







Total air raids* 26 March 2015 to 30 September 2018: 18,568 Saudi-led coalition air raids fell in September to 231 from 249 in August.



The number of air raids in September was 45% below the monthly average of air raids per month since the air campaign began in March 2015.



While the number of monthly strikes remains well below average for the 3.5 year-long air campaign, Sa'ada and Al-Hudaydah governorates have become the focus of the bombing with more than 76% of strikes in September targeting these two governorates.



Air raids targeted 10 of Yemen's 22 governorates in September.



The highest number of air raids recorded in a single month was September 2015, at 920.