Haiti Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé has publicly commended the military efforts of El Salvador following a coordinated airstrike on a property in Port-au-Prince. The operation targeted a complex identified by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as the headquarters of the 400 Mawozo gang, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Haiti.
Fils-Aimé thanked the Salvadorean forces for their commitment to fighting gang violence. He stated that both nations would continue to work together with the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to restore state authority and regain control over territory held by armed groups.
Strike on 400 Mawozo Compound
The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday. Bukele shared video footage on X showing helicopters firing upon a large residential complex. In the video, dozens of individuals can be seen fleeing the property as the aircraft circle overhead.
Bukele described the target as the house of Lanmò San Jou, the alias of Wilson Joseph, the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang. He claimed the strike destroyed the gang’s headquarters and noted that alleged members fled without attempting to fight back. He wrote in Creole that he had kept his promise to address the threat.
Local media reports indicate that approximately 20 people were killed in the operation. However, these same reports stated that Wilson Joseph was not present at the compound at the time of the attack. The BBC has not independently verified the video footage or confirmed the identity of the property as the gang’s headquarters.
Legal and Operational Concerns
The joint operation has drawn scrutiny regarding its legal standing. A small contingent of Salvadoran troops has been stationed in Haiti since January 2025 as part of the multinational GSF. Last month, Bukele deployed an additional 2,000 soldiers to the Caribbean nation following the abduction of four Salvadoran air force technicians on October 18.
Critics argue that the influx of Salvadoran personnel operates outside the established command structure of the GSF. This has raised questions about the operational legitimacy of their actions in Haiti. Amnesty International has urged both governments to ensure that all military operations comply with international human rights law.
The strike appears to have been prompted by social media activity. Bukele had previously responded to a user on X who demanded the exact address of the compound, promising to destroy it. The original post was later removed for violating platform rules.
Bukele has directly threatened gang leaders holding the four missing Salvadorans, stating that his government has finished dealing with gangs in El Salvador and can do the same in Haiti. The four abducted technicians were working as part of the GSF mission when they were ambushed.
Source: BBC
