The U.S. Embassy located in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, issued a warning on Saturday to American citizens about ongoing security operations in areas to the north and south of the embassy, including Croix-de-Bouquet.
Reports of heavy gunfire have emerged in the capital, prompting the U.S. government to advise against all travel there, as stated in an alert from the State Department.
The embassy has indicated it will maintain emergency services. Officials are urging Americans in the vicinity to stay away from the area and keep an eye on local news for further updates.
According to both the U.S. State Department and the United Nations Integration Office in Haiti (BINUH), armed groups hold significant control over much of Port-au-Prince and its surroundings.
Croix-de-Bouquet, specifically mentioned in the recent advisory, has been known as a stronghold for the “400 Mawozo” gang.
The gang’s leader, Jolie Jarmin, aged 34, was sentenced to life in prison last December for her involvement in the 2021 abduction of 16 U.S. citizens, including five children.
Meanwhile, U.S. Marines have reportedly engaged in gunfire with suspected gang members in Haiti. The victims of these incidents, affiliated with the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministry, were taken hostage while returning home from an orphanage, according to the Justice Department.
The State Department currently has a Level 4 travel ban in place, which advises against travel to Haiti due to various concerns, including crime, kidnapping, terrorist activity, and limited medical resources.
At this time, the State Department has not responded to requests for comments. Observers in the area remain on high alert as tensions continue to rise.
