El Salvador destroys gang HQ in Haiti after kidnapping

Salvadoran military forces, working with Haitian police, attacked and destroyed the headquarters of the notorious 400 Mawozo crime gang in one of the most dramatic operations against organized crime in Haiti. According to international media reports, at least 20 gunmen were killed in the strike, which deployed armed drones carrying explosives, helicopters, and ground forces.

The assault took place Sunday in the Croix-des-Bouquets area near the capital Port-au-Prince. According to the Miami Herald, a Haitian police special unit operating explosive drones raided the compound around 2:30 a.m., supported by Salvadoran forces. Four helicopters provided air support, two of them operated by the Salvadoran military.

El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, released video of the attack on Tuesday showing military helicopters circling a two-story building and opening fire. The footage shows explosions and smoke rising from the compound as people flee the scene.

Helicopters in the air, explosions on the ground: Bukele's army destroys major gang headquarters (Photo: Social media)

Bukele wrote on X that his forces destroyed the home of gang leader Wilson Joseph, known as "Lanmo Sanjou," and the organization's general headquarters. He added that most gang members fled without attempting to fight.

According to reports, up to 20 gunmen inside the building were killed in the strike. However, the death toll is based on sources who spoke to media outlets and has not been released as an official estimate by authorities. The gang leader himself was not at the compound during the attack.

The Salvadoran deployment to Haiti stems from a kidnapping incident on October 18, when four Salvadoran Air Force personnel serving with the international force in Haiti were abducted in an ambush. Following the incident, Bukele ordered a significant reinforcement, and more than 2,000 Salvadoran soldiers were sent to Haiti.

The targeted gang is considered one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the country, involved in kidnappings, extortion, and arms trafficking. It gained international notoriety in 2021 when its members kidnapped 16 American missionaries and a Canadian citizen, including children. The hostages were held for weeks, and some managed to escape on their own.

Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé praised the operation and thanked President Bukele and the Salvadoran military for their assistance in the fight against gangs. He declared that cooperation between the countries will continue with the goal of restoring state control and curbing criminal organizations.

However, El Salvador's military involvement raises international questions. Most of the soldiers deployed to the country operate outside the framework of the UN-backed international task force, and Amnesty International has called on both countries to ensure all military operations comply with international law and to publish the agreement governing the forces' activities.

Meanwhile, Haiti's prime minister is expected to visit El Salvador next week, where he will discuss with Bukele the continued presence of thousands of troops in the country.