Haitian Forces Begin Gaining Ground On Gangs Through Drone Strikes, Report Claims

Haitian armed forces are reportedly shifting tactics in an effort to gradually change the dynamics of violence that have long defined the Caribbean nation. And it seems to be working.

According to a source close to a recent operation who spoke to the Miami Herald, Haitian forces are now using drones as a weapon to gain ground against the violent gangs that continue to terrorize the country.

As reported by the outlet, earlier this month specialized Haitian police units, supported by a drone task force, entered the gang-controlled Delmas 6 neighborhood of Port-au-Prince with the goal of destroying a safehouse belonging to the leader and spokesperson of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier.

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A video posted on social media shows the operation took place on Jan. 14. According to the Miami Herald, security forces spent nearly two hours inside the property before detonating explosives to destroy it.

Opération des forces de l’ordre à Bas-Delmas, fief du chef de gang Babekyou, avec utilisation de drones kamikazes. pic.twitter.com/1JvBrmbxQg

— Infos Partage (@infospartagesos) January 14, 2026

"It was definitely done as a sign to the rest of the gangs that the task force can go where it wants, when it wants," a source close to the operation told the Miami Herald. The outlet reported that after months of failing to make an impact in gang-controlled areas of the capital, the specialized drone task force is now shifting the balance of power.

The Miami Herald noted that the drone task force was hired by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé and operates under the supervision of U.S.-based private security firm Vectus Global, founded by Erik Prince, the former CEO of military contractor Blackwater.

During the raid, "none of his team came to fight that day," a security operative said, creating panic among gang leaders who now believe Haitian authorities can enter neighborhoods once considered untouchable strongholds.

"Reporting is indicating probably half the gangs are just abandoning their positions completely," the source said.

According to the report, 129 members of the drone task force are currently deployed across Haiti to combat gang violence. They work alongside the Haitian National Police, the Armed Forces of Haiti, and the Kenya-led international police mission, relying on both weaponized and surveillance drones.

"The tools and the tactics that have been gathered for this mission are working," one task force operative told the outlet. "Gangs really don't like to fight against drones."

Despite these limited advances against violent gangs, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a report this month that while anti-gang operations in Port-au-Prince have reopened several key roads, gangs have expanded beyond the capital and continue to undermine government authority, disrupting humanitarian and commercial routes throughout the region.

The U.N. report also noted that drone strikes resulted in at least 973 deaths between March and December, including 934 alleged gang members and at least 39 civilians, 16 of whom were children. More than 600 people were also injured during that period.

Civilian casualties have drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups, which argue the operations are being carried out without sufficient safeguards to prevent civilian deaths.

"They are extremely judicious," the source said. "I would encourage civilians not to remain in prepared gang defensive positions if they don't want to get killed. Other than that, I think the collateral damage has been extremely, extremely minimal."

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