Escalating Drone Strikes in Haiti: A Human Rights Crisis

Since March 2025, Haitian security forces, supported by the private military company Vectus Global, have intensified anti-gang operations using explosive drones in densely populated areas of Port-au-Prince. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reports that these drone strikes have resulted in at least 1,243 deaths and 738 injuries, with a significant number of civilian casualties, including children.

HRW's findings indicate that among the deceased, 17 were children and 43 were adults not affiliated with any criminal group. The most lethal operation recorded killed 57 individuals. The frequency of drone attacks has surged, with 57 incidents reported between November 2025 and January 2026, nearly double the 29 attacks documented from August to October 2025. The use of drones has instilled fear in local communities, with residents expressing concerns about their safety and the indiscriminate nature of the strikes.

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Critics, including HRW and U.N. officials, have condemned the drone strikes as disproportionate and potentially unlawful. Volker Turk, the U.N. human rights chief, stated that the use of lethal force against gangs in Haiti was unnecessary and likely violated international law. HRW emphasized that many attacks appear to target individuals in situations that amount to extrajudicial killings, calling for accountability and independent investigations into these incidents.

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Haitian authorities, including the National Police and the prime minister's office, have not publicly responded to requests for comments regarding the drone strikes. The U.S. State Department has licensed Vectus Global to provide its services in Haiti, but there has been no indication of oversight or accountability for the civilian casualties resulting from these operations.