In short
- Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé thanked the Salvadoran military for “the commitment of the Salvadorean forces in the fight against gangs” after a joint strike on a house allegedly used by the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang.
- El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said a joint task force destroyed “the house of Lanmò San Jou and the 400 Mawozo gang’s headquarters”, posting video of helicopters firing on the complex.
- Local media reported that as many as 20 people were killed in the strike and that Lanmò San Jou, whose real name is Wilson Joseph, was not at the property at the time.
- El Salvador has kept a small contingent in Haiti since January 2025, and Bukele sent an additional 2,000 soldiers last month after four Salvadorans were abducted on 18 October.
- Amnesty International urged both countries to “ensure all operations conducted by Salvadorean forces in Haiti comply with international human rights law”.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé thanked Salvadoran forces for their role in a joint strike on a house that President Nayib Bukele described as the headquarters of the 400 Mawozo gang, Haiti’s largest criminal group. Local media reported that as many as 20 people were killed in the attack, which they said took place in the early hours of Sunday.
Fils-Aimé wrote on X on Tuesday that he thanked the Salvadoran military for “the commitment of the Salvadorean forces in the fight against gangs” and said the two countries would keep working with the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to “regain control of the territory and restore state authority”. “THE GANGS WILL GET NO SLEEP!” he added. He did not provide further details of the joint operation or the number of casualties, and posted a still image from video that Bukele had shared, showing a helicopter firing a projectile at the compound.
What did Nayib Bukele say about the strike?
El Salvador’s president announced the operation on X with footage of several helicopters circling and firing on a large complex, as dozens of people were seen running out of the property. Writing in Creole, Bukele said “we kept our promise” and that the alleged gang members “ran away without even trying to fight”. He described the target as “the house of Lanmò San Jou and the 400 Mawozo gang’s headquarters”.
How many people were killed?
Local media put the death toll at as many as 20 and reported that Lanmò San Jou, whose real name is Wilson Joseph, was not at the property at the time of the attack. Fils-Aimé did not give a number of casualties. The BBC said it had not been able to verify the video posted by Bukele, nor whether the property was the headquarters of the 400 Mawozo, a gang known for kidnappings for ransom.
Why are Salvadoran troops in Haiti?
El Salvador has kept a small contingent in Haiti since January 2025 as part of a multinational force deployed to suppress gang violence. Last month Bukele sent an additional 2,000 soldiers to search for four missing Salvadorans, who were abducted after being ambushed on 18 October. The four were air force technicians working with the GSF, which is made up of troops from several nations.
What led up to the strike?
The attack appeared to follow an exchange on X in which a user urged Bukele to strike the complex. “Where is that house? Give us the exact address, and we’ll destroy it,” the Salvadoran president replied to the post, which has since been taken down, apparently for violating X’s rules. After the 18 October abduction, Bukele had addressed “the gang leaders and gang members holding our four compatriots hostage in Haiti”, writing: “We have already finished with the gangs in El Salvador, and we can finish with you too.”
What concerns have been raised about the operation?
Critics say the extra Salvadoran troops are not all working within the GSF’s command structure, and have questioned the operational legitimacy and legality of their actions in Haiti. Amnesty International urged both countries to “ensure all operations conducted by Salvadorean forces in Haiti comply with international human rights law”. Other governments in the region have also reported lethal operations against gang leaders: Colombia said an air strike killed eight people, including a Gulf Clan leader.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Lanmò San Jou?
Lanmò San Jou, whose real name is Wilson Joseph, is the alleged leader of the 400 Mawozo gang, described by El Salvador’s president as the target of the strike. Local media reported he was not at the property at the time of the attack.
How many people died in the strike on the 400 Mawozo compound?
Haiti’s prime minister did not give a casualty figure. Local media reported that as many as 20 people were killed in the strike, which they said took place in the early hours of Sunday.
How long have Salvadoran troops been deployed in Haiti?
El Salvador has kept a small contingent in Haiti since January 2025 as part of a multinational force. After four Salvadorans were abducted on 18 October, President Nayib Bukele sent an additional 2,000 soldiers.
What is the Gang Suppression Force?
The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) is a UN-backed mission made up of troops from several nations. Haiti and El Salvador said they would keep working with it to regain control of territory and restore state authority.
With reporting from BBC News.
Stock image, not from the events described. City Skyline — Joe deSousa / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
