Port au Prince: More than 1,200 people have been killed in explosive drone strikes carried out in Haiti as part of a campaign against powerful criminal gangs, according to a new report released by Human Rights Watch.
The rights group said the attacks, conducted between March 2025 and January 2026, killed at least 1,243 people and injured about 738 others. Among those killed were at least 60 civilians, including 17 children.
Human Rights Watch said Haitian security forces used small drones that dropped explosives in gang controlled neighbourhoods, mainly in the capital Port au Prince. The report warned that several of the attacks appeared to be indiscriminate and may have violated international human rights law.
Investigators said that in some cases the drones targeted people in crowded areas where civilians were present. Videos and witness accounts reviewed by the organisation suggested that some victims did not appear to be directly involved in armed violence at the time of the strikes.
One of the deadliest incidents reportedly killed 57 people in a single attack. In another case in the Simon Pele neighbourhood in September 2025, nine people were killed, including three children.
Haiti has been struggling with severe gang violence for several years. Armed groups control large parts of Port au Prince and other areas, making it difficult for police to carry out regular operations.
Authorities have increasingly relied on drones as part of their security operations against gangs that are heavily armed and deeply entrenched in urban areas. The government argues that such methods are necessary to weaken criminal networks that have carried out killings, kidnappings and attacks on communities.
The violence has forced more than a million people to flee their homes and created a deep humanitarian crisis across the country.
An international security mission led by Kenya and supported by the United Nations has also been deployed to help Haitian authorities restore order, though the force is still limited in size and resources.
Human Rights Watch called on Haitian authorities to investigate the drone strikes and ensure stronger oversight of such operations. The group warned that without proper safeguards, the use of explosive drones in populated areas could lead to further civilian deaths.