Yakla Raid: Trump's First Military Operation Kills Civilians and a U.S. Navy SEAL

Overview

Nine days into his presidency, Donald Trump authorized his first military operation — a Special Operations raid on a suspected Al-Qaeda compound in the Yemeni village of Yakla. The operation resulted in the death of a U.S. Navy SEAL, the wounding of three other American service members, the destruction of a $75 million aircraft, and the deaths of an estimated 23–30 civilians, including at least eight children.

The manner of the raid's authorization — over dinner, without the NSC process — and the subsequent casualty toll drew immediate scrutiny.

How the Decision Was Made

The Yakla operation had been planned during the Obama administration but was held pending a more thorough national security review. The Obama team decided not to proceed. Trump approved it on January 25 — his fifth day in office — during a dinner at Mar-a-Lago that included his son-in-law Jared Kushner, chief strategist Steve Bannon, and National Security Advisor Michael Flynn.

The principals committee review that would have been convened under the Obama decision-making process was bypassed. The dinner authorization was described by officials to various news organizations as unusual for an operation of this type.

The Raid and Its Casualties

By multiple accounts, the element of surprise was lost before the operation began. Yemeni sources told reporters that Al-Qaeda fighters in the area appeared to have been warned. As the SEAL team approached the compound, a firefight began that lasted approximately 50 minutes.

Chief Petty Officer William "Ryan" Owens was shot and killed. Three other team members were wounded. An Osprey aircraft was destroyed during the casualty evacuation when it made a hard landing; the aircraft had to be deliberately demolished to prevent capture.

During and after the firefight, an estimated 23–30 civilians in the surrounding village were killed. At least 8 were children. Nawar al-Awlaki — an 8-year-old American citizen, the daughter of slain cleric Anwar al-Awlaki — was shot and reportedly bled for two hours before dying.

Trump's Response

Trump initially called the raid "a success" and attacked critics of the operation. He later told Fox News that "they lost Ryan" while discussing military decision-making — a comment widely interpreted as deflecting responsibility to the commanders who planned the operation.

At a joint congressional address on February 28, Trump invoked Ryan Owens's widow Carryn, seated in the gallery, for what became a prolonged standing ovation. Ryan Owens's father, who had refused to meet Trump at Dover and was calling for an investigation, was not present.