Bukele says Salvadoran troops destroyed the headquarters of Haiti's 400 Mawozo gang

The strike

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said on Tuesday that troops deployed to Haiti had destroyed the headquarters of one of the country's most powerful gangs, France 24 and the BBC report. Writing on X, Bukele said a joint task force had destroyed what he described as the house of gang leader Lanmò San Jou and the 400 Mawozo gang's headquarters.

His post included video of several helicopters firing on a large complex as dozens of people ran from it. Writing in Creole, he said "we kept our promise" and that the alleged gang members fled without trying to fight. The BBC says it has not been able to verify the video or whether the property was the gang's headquarters.

Local media reported that as many as 20 people were killed in the strike, carried out early on Sunday, and that the gang leader, whose real name is Wilson Joseph, was not there. 400 Mawozo is Haiti's largest criminal gang and is known for kidnappings for ransom.

Haiti's response

Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé praised "the commitment of the Salvadorean forces in the fight against gangs" in a post on X on Monday, saying the two countries would keep working together with the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force to regain control of territory and restore state authority. He gave no details on the operation or casualties.

Why Salvadoran troops are there

A small Salvadoran contingent has been in Haiti since January 2025 as part of the multinational force. Four Salvadoran air force technicians serving with that force were ambushed and have been missing since October 18. Bukele then sent more than 2,000 extra soldiers, telling the gangs holding them: "We have already finished with the gangs in El Salvador, and we can finish with you too."

The BBC reports that the strike appeared to follow a post on X urging Bukele to attack the complex, to which he replied asking for the exact address. That post has since been removed.

Critics say not all the new troops operate within the Gang Suppression Force's command structure, raising questions about the legitimacy and legality of their actions. Amnesty International has urged both countries to ensure all operations by Salvadoran forces in Haiti comply with international human rights law.