El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has released footage of military helicopters launching repeated strikes on a compound in Haiti, which he says was the headquarters of one of the country's most powerful criminal gangs.

The video, shared on Tuesday, shows helicopters firing on several structures, sending plumes of smoke into the air as people flee the area.

Bukele said the operation destroyed the home of Wilson Joseph, also known as Lanmò San Jou, and the headquarters of the 400 Mawozo gang. Joseph was not reported killed in the attack.

The operation, carried out on Sunday in Croix-des-Bouquets, involved Haitian police with support from Salvadoran troops. Reports indicate that 20 people were killed.

The targeting of 400 Mawozo is significant given the gang's role in Haiti's prolonged security crisis. It has been involved in mass kidnappings, extortion and arms smuggling, while maintaining control over strategic territory and transport routes connecting the capital to other parts of the country and the Dominican Republic.

Its influence extends beyond its own members, with the group also linked to the wider Viv Ansanm gang alliance.

The operation also highlights the growing involvement of foreign military forces in Haiti. El Salvador has deployed approximately 2,500 troops to the country since four of its military aviation technicians went missing following a gang ambush in October.

While Haitian authorities have welcomed the support, most of the additional Salvadoran troops are operating outside the framework of the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force, raising questions about their command arrangements, rules of engagement and accountability.

Amnesty International has called on both governments to disclose the agreement governing the deployment and ensure that military operations comply with international human rights law.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele