Haitian gang leader injured in shootout with police forces

In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a significant police operation led to the injury of a prominent gang leader, Deshommes, during a shootout with Haitian and Kenyan police. This operation marks the first major incursion into gang-controlled areas since the initiation of a U.N.-backed mission earlier this year. The police reported that around 20 gang members were killed, and various weapons and sensitive materials were confiscated. Despite the operation's intensity, no arrests were made, and the police did not disclose how they confirmed Deshommes' injury. The ongoing operations aim to dismantle the Kraze Baryè gang, which is notorious for its violent activities, including kidnappings and extortion. The gang's leader, Vitel’Homme Innocent, has been sanctioned internationally and is wanted for multiple serious crimes, including the armed kidnapping of missionaries. Innocent has publicly challenged the police, claiming that the gang does not pose a threat and accusing law enforcement of harming innocent civilians. Kraze Baryè, with approximately 600 members, is allied with the G-Pèp gang federation and operates in several neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince. The Kenyan-led mission has vowed to maintain pressure on the gangs until they surrender, highlighting the ongoing struggle against organized crime in Haiti. The situation remains volatile, with police operations continuing in various regions, including Pont-Sondé, where another gang recently committed mass killings. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, as the violence and instability in Haiti have far-reaching implications for regional security and humanitarian efforts.