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A new report has revealed that FPV drone attacks carried out by Haitian security forces and private contractors in anti-gang operations have killed more than 1,200 people since last year.
Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the security situation in Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince has deteriorated so severely that the Haitian government has turned to drone warfare in a desperate attempt to reclaim territory from powerful gangs controlling up to 90% of the city. Since early 2025, the government has deployed weaponized drones to target gang leaders. In addition, Haiti has reached a deal with Vectus Global, a private security firm led by former US Navy SEAL and Blackwater founder Erik Prince. Under the deal, hundreds of foreign contractors have been sent to Haiti to assist in counter-gang operations, including the use of explosive FPV-style drones.
What’s going on now: According to Human Rights Watch, 1,243 people were killed and 738 injured in 141 FPV drone strikes carried out between March 1, 2025, and January 21, 2026 in Haiti’s West Department, which includes Port-au-Prince. The rights group said the casualties include both suspected gang members and civilians. Among those killed were 17 children and 43 adults not believed to be members of criminal groups. Human Rights Watch said Haitian security forces used quadcopter drones fitted with explosives in anti-gang operations across densely populated urban neighborhoods, with many of the attacks targeting people, vehicles, and buildings.
The report found the campaign consisted of 141 documented drone operations, with an average of about 8.8 deaths per strike, and noted that the most lethal single operation killed 57 people. Human Rights Watch highlighted a September 20, 2025 strike in the Simon Pelé neighborhood of Port-au-Prince where a drone exploded near a recreation complex where children had gathered for a gift distribution organized by a local gang. That attack killed nine people, including three children, and injured at least eight others, according to the group. Witnesses described severe blast injuries and amputations, with one resident recalling that the explosion “ripped both feet off a baby.”
Researchers tasked with analyzing videos of the strikes said the footage shows drones detonating near individuals who “appear to be armed, but none who appear to be engaged in violent acts or pose any imminent threat to life,” raising concerns about the legality of the operations.
According to the report, the pace of attacks has increased significantly in recent months, with 57 drone strikes between November 2025 and January 2026, nearly double the 29 attacks recorded between August and October 2025. Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch, said, “Dozens of ordinary people, including many children, have been killed and injured in these lethal drone operations. Haitian authorities should urgently rein in the security forces and private contractors working for them before more children die.”
As of now, Haiti’s prime minister’s office, the Haitian National Police, and the private military contractor Vectus Global have not responded to requests for comment about the findings.
