Incident Involving Marines at U.S. Embassy in Haiti

On Thursday, U.S. Marines stationed at the embassy in Haiti found themselves in a shootout with suspected gang members, just days after gang leader Jimmy “Barbeque” Chéridier allegedly issued threats of violence. Capt. Stephen J. Keenan, a Marine Corps spokesperson, confirmed the incident, indicating no Marines were hurt during the exchange of gunfire. Haitian police have yet to comment on the situation.

Sources suggest that the shooting occurred prior to a recent video in which Chéridier advised the public to stay indoors to “avoid becoming victims” of potential violence set for November 17. In this video, Chéridier, also known as Barbecue, described himself as the president and spokesperson of the group Viv Ansanm, which the U.S. has labeled a terrorist organization. He warned citizens to remain home to prevent becoming casualties, asserting that conflict has commenced and his group intends to take to the streets in opposition to the police.

According to a warning issued by the U.S. embassy, personnel cuts were announced for November 17 due to escalating security concerns. UN officials have prompted Haitian staff to work remotely following these gang-related threats.

Last week, a joint task force of the Haitian National Police, military units, and Kenyan-led security forces arrested 400 individuals linked to the Mawozo and Cheng Mechan gangs, along with their leaders and operational bases. In retaliation, it’s reported that leaders of Viv Ansanm have threatened to paralyze the nation in response to these security efforts.

The U.S. Department of State designated both Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) on May 2, 2025. According to reports, gangs now dominate over 90% of Haiti’s capital, engaging in frequent extortion and conflicts among themselves.