El President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, announced on Wednesday that a group of Haitian gangs had abducted four Salvadoran members of a UN-supported security force. In response, he initiated a military operation to secure their safe return.
The Salvadoran military and the UN Gang Suppression Force, tasked with aiding Haitian police in combating powerful gangs, had previously revealed efforts to locate the missing Salvadorans. However, due to intense fighting in the area, access was restricted.
Bukele confirmed the launch of a military rescue operation without divulging specific details or identifying the group responsible for the abduction. The Gang Suppression Force did not immediately comment on the situation.
The four Salvadorans vanished after escaping from a burning armored vehicle that was ambushed by armed gangs on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. They were returning from a market to their base when the incident occurred, according to security officials.
Haitian gangs have solidified their control over the capital and neighboring areas in recent years due to political instability, widespread extortion, and the influx of illegal firearms, primarily from the U.S.
Various countries, such as Chad and Sri Lanka, have contributed troops to the Gang Suppression Force. However, a year into its mission, the force has only achieved a fraction of its intended size and has had limited effectiveness in enhancing Haiti’s security.
Bukele clarified that the missing individuals were aviation technicians, not combatants, emphasizing that their role was centered on medical evacuations and saving lives rather than engaging in warfare.
