A disturbing pattern of lethal drone operations in Haiti has been exposed by Human Rights Watch, revealing significant civilian casualties and raising serious questions about the involvement of private military contractors. According to a comprehensive investigation, these kamikaze drone strikes have killed and injured hundreds of non-combatants, including numerous children, over a ten-month period.
Juanita Goebertus, Americas Director at Human Rights Watch, issued a stark condemnation: “Dozens of ordinary people, including many children, have been killed and injured in these lethal drone operations.” The organization’s data analysis documents at least 1,243 fatalities from 141 separate drone operations between March 2025 and January 2026. Among the dead were 43 adults with no apparent ties to criminal organizations and 17 children. Additionally, 738 people were injured in these attacks, including at least 49 civilians.
The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) has attributed the drone campaign to a specialized “Task Force” established by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé. This force operates with technical support from Vectus Global, a private military company owned by Erik Prince, the controversial former founder of Blackwater. The U.S. State Department’s involvement was confirmed by the American ambassador to Haiti, who acknowledged issuing an export license to Vectus Global for defense services in the country.
The escalation of drone strikes has been particularly dramatic in recent months. Port-au-Prince witnessed 57 attacks between November 2025 and January 2026—nearly double the 29 operations recorded during the previous three-month period from August to October 2025.
Human Rights Watch has called for immediate accountability measures, including compensation for affected families and full transparency regarding the command structure overseeing these operations. The organization has specifically demanded clarification about the role played by private military companies in the drone campaign. Formal letters detailing these findings and requests were sent to Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, the Haitian National Police, and Vectus Global. None had responded at the time of the report’s publication.