Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime has praised "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 had earlier announced that a joint task force "destroyed" what he described as the house of Lanmo San Jou and the gang's headquarters. A small contingent of Salvadoran troops has been 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 rescue four Salvadorans who have been missing since they were ambushed on October 18.
Bukele posted a video of helicopters firing on a large complex. As the helicopters circle, dozens of people can be seen running out of the property. Writing in Creole, he said "we kept our promise" and that the alleged gang members "ran away without even trying to fight."
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. They also reported that Lanmo San Jou, whose real name is Wilson Joseph, was not at the property at the time.
Fils-Aime thanked the Salvadoran military in a post on Monday and said the two countries would keep working together, along with the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, to "regain control of the territory and restore state authority." He wrote: "THE GANGS WILL GET NO SLEEP!" He gave no further details about the operation or the number of casualties.
The video and the claim that the property was the headquarters of 400 Mawozo, Haiti's largest criminal gang, could not be verified. The gang is known for kidnappings for ransom.
The four Salvadorans abducted on October 18 were air force technicians working with the Gang Suppression Force, which is made up of troops from several nations. Bukele's decision to send thousands of additional troops has raised concerns among critics, who say not all of them are working within the force's command structure. It has also raised questions about the legitimacy and legality of their operations in Haiti.
Amnesty International has urged both countries to ensure that all operations conducted by Salvadoran forces in Haiti comply with international human rights law.
