El Salvador’s military forces have joined Haitian security personnel in an operation targeting the headquarters of the notorious 400 Mawozo gang, marking a significant escalation in the country’s security cooperation with Haiti under President Nayib Bukele.

The operation, reported on November 9–10, 2026, targeted a property associated with gang leader Wilson Joseph, also known as Lanmò San Jou, in Croix-des-Bouquets. President Bukele announced that Salvadoran forces had destroyed the leader’s residence and the gang’s headquarters, sharing footage showing helicopter-supported strikes. Haitian police also participated in the operation.

The deployment follows an October 18 ambush in which four Salvadoran aviation technicians disappeared while serving in Haiti. In response, Bukele announced the deployment of more than 2,000 Salvadoran troops to support security operations and efforts to address the country’s escalating gang violence.

The operation forms part of broader cooperation with Haitian authorities amid the international security effort supported by the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF). Bukele has also reportedly coordinated with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the intervention, who allegedly responded, “Do what you have to do.”

The 400 Mawozo organization has a history of high-profile criminal activity, including the 2021 kidnapping of 16 American missionaries, who were held captive for 61 days before their release.

El Salvador’s involvement represents an expansion of its international security role, as the Bukele administration supports Haitian authorities in confronting powerful criminal organizations and restoring stability in communities affected by gang violence.