El Salvador’s military conducted airstrikes on Sunday targeting locations associated with the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti, following the abduction of four Salvadoran members of a U.N.-backed security mission. The operation was described by President Nayib Bukele as part of a broader military response to the kidnapping incident that occurred near Port-au-Prince on October 18.
In comments made on social media, Bukele confirmed that the airstrikes specifically targeted the gang’s strongholds and the residence of its leader, Lanmò San Jou. The 400 Mawozo gang has gained notoriety for mass kidnappings, weapons trafficking, and extortion. Video footage released from the airstrikes showed multiple helicopters striking various compounds, with numerous individuals fleeing the sites on foot and motorcycles.
We kept our promise, Bukele said in a post.
Bukele’s statements highlighted the gang’s cowardice, with the President remarking, Most of them ran away without even trying to fight. What cowards! Reports, including from the Miami Herald, suggest that the operation may have resulted in the deaths of approximately 20 individuals, though this figure remains unverified.
The Haitian Prime Minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, expressed gratitude towards Bukele for his support in addressing Haiti’s ongoing gang crisis. He commended the collaboration between Salvadoran forces and local authorities, including the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force and the Haitian Armed Forces.
I salute the commitment of the Salvadoran forces in the fight against gangs, Fils-Aimé stated.
Hats off to President Nayib Bukele for your support and commitment to the national fight against gangs. Haiti, El Salvador, GSF: same fight, same determination! The collaboration will continue. THE GANGS WILL GET NO SLEEP! he added.
This military operation marks a significant step in a joint effort between El Salvador and Haiti to combat escalating violence and restore security in the region.
