Haitian security forces and private contractors operating drones have been responsible for the deaths of over 1,200 individuals and the injury of nearly 740 others within a span of less than a year, as reported by Human Rights Watch on Tuesday. Among those killed, 17 were minors and 43 were adults not affiliated with any criminal organizations. The incidents occurred between March 1, 2025, and January 21, 2026, with the deadliest drone operation resulting in the deaths of 57 people.
Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director at Human Rights Watch, issued a statement urging Haitian authorities to take immediate action to prevent further casualties, particularly the loss of innocent lives, from drone attacks. The nonprofit organization highlighted a significant rise in armed drone assaults in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, which is predominantly under gang control. The escalation was evident with 57 reported attacks between November and late January, nearly doubling the 29 incidents recorded from August to October the previous year.
Human Rights Watch conducted an analysis of seven videos depicting armed quadcopter drones in action, with four of the videos geolocated to Port-au-Prince. The footage revealed the drones being used to target vehicles and individuals, including some armed individuals who did not pose an immediate threat. The organization emphasized that it did not find widespread drone utilization among criminal factions.
A distressing case highlighted in the report occurred in the Simon Pele neighborhood on September 20, 2025. During this incident, a drone attack orchestrated by security forces resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, including three children, and left several others injured. The families of the victims recounted how the criminal group overseeing the area exerted control over the funerals, restricting attendance to those who accepted their support.
The UN human rights chief, Volker Turk, denounced the use of lethal force against gangs in Haiti as unnecessary, disproportionate, and likely violating international law. Notably, in mid-2025, Vectus Global, the security firm led by Erik Prince, the controversial former founder of Blackwater, planned to deploy around 200 personnel from various nations to Haiti under a one-year agreement to combat gang violence.
Furthermore, Haiti’s government established a task force, comprising specific police units and private contractors, to address security challenges. The task force, which operates independently of the Haitian National Police, has employed explosive drones in its operations. Collaboration with a UN-backed mission led by Kenyan police is ongoing, with plans for the mission to evolve into a gang suppression force in the near future.
Gang-related violence has hindered the judicial proceedings in Haiti against 20 individuals, including Colombian soldiers and Haitian officials, implicated in the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. The prosecution has faced numerous obstacles, including the intimidation of judges and the takeover of the Port-au-Prince courthouse by powerful gangs. Meanwhile, trials are scheduled to commence in a U.S. federal court against defendants accused of conspiring to harm or abduct Haiti’s former leader.
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