Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on Tuesday that drone strikes conducted by Haitian security forces targeting gangs have killed more than 1,200 people, including 60 civilians, since March 2025. The operations, which have ramped up in recent months, are part of anti-gang efforts in densely populated areas of the capital Port-au-Prince.
Key Takeaways
Human Rights Watch reports that drone strikes by Haitian security forces have killed over 1,200 people in Port-au-Prince since March 2025, including 60 civilians. The operations, supported by private contractor Vectus Global and the US government, have significantly increased in recent months.
The strikes were carried out using quadcopter drones equipped with explosives and supported by Vectus Global, a private US-based military company led by Blackwater founder Erik Prince. The US State Department had licensed Vectus to export its services to Haiti, as disclosed in a Senate committee hearing last month.
HRW's report detailed that the drone strikes killed 17 children and 43 adult civilians, with injuries reported among at least 49 other alleged civilians. The number of operations doubled from August to October, reaching nearly double by November to January.
The UN office in Haiti (BINUH) has recorded dozens of civilian deaths and injuries from these drone strikes but noted no indications that the incidents were being investigated. HRW's Americas director, Juanita Goebertus, emphasized the need for Haitian authorities to rein in security forces and private contractors to prevent further civilian casualties.
Despite international support from Kenya, the US, and the UN, armed gangs have expanded beyond Port-au-Prince, killing thousands, displacing over a million people, and crippling the economy. The UN's human rights chief has described the drone strikes as disproportionate and likely unlawful.
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