El Salvador’s military conducted airstrikes on Sunday targeting the headquarters of Haiti’s 400 Mawozo gang, a group linked to kidnappings and extortion, in an operation backed by Haitian security forces. The strikes destroyed a compound identified as the home of gang leader Lanmò San Jou, also known as Wilson Joseph, near Port-au-Prince. Twenty people are reported killed in the operation, according to anonymous sources cited by The Miami Herald.
The assault follows the abduction of four Salvadoran soldiers on October 18 during a gang ambush in Haiti, prompting El Salvador to deploy over 2,000 troops as part of a U.N.-backed security mission. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced the operation on November 10, sharing video footage of helicopters launching rockets at the compound. Bukele stated that most gang members fled without resistance, calling them “cowards.” The attack occurred in Croix-des-Bouquets, a suburb of Port-au-Prince.
Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé publicly thanked Bukele and international partners for their support in combating gang violence. The operation was conducted by a Haitian police task force with Salvadoran military backing, as reported by The Miami Herald.
Background and Context
The 400 Mawozo gang has been a dominant force in Haiti’s criminal underworld, known for mass kidnappings, weapons trafficking, and extortion. Gang leader Lanmò San Jou is wanted by the FBI for hostage-taking, with a $1 million bounty offered for information leading to his arrest. The gang’s stronghold in Croix-des-Bouquets has been a focal point of Haiti’s escalating security crisis.
El Salvador’s involvement in Haiti marks a significant expansion of its regional security role. Bukele’s government has previously employed aggressive military tactics against gangs domestically, including mass arrests and crackdowns. The deployment of Salvadoran troops to Haiti has raised questions about rules of engagement and coordination with Haitian authorities.
International Response
The operation has drawn international attention, with Haiti’s prime minister praising the collaboration between Salvadoran forces and Haitian security agencies. The U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) and Haitian Armed Forces also participated in the mission. The airstrikes follow Bukele’s November 6 social media appeal for open-source intelligence to locate the gang’s headquarters, which he described as the “House of Death.”
Videos released by Bukele show rockets striking the compound, resulting in large plumes of smoke. Witnesses reported seeing dozens of people fleeing the area on foot and motorcycles. The Salvadoran government has not disclosed further operational details.
Ongoing Concerns
The mission’s long-term impact remains uncertain, as Haiti continues to grapple with widespread gang violence and political instability. Critics have questioned the sustainability of military-led solutions in addressing the root causes of Haiti’s security crisis. The disappearance of the four Salvadoran soldiers and subsequent airstrikes underscore the risks faced by international peacekeeping forces in the region.