El President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, announced on Wednesday that a group of Haitian gangs had taken four members of an international UN-backed security force from El Salvador as hostages. In response, a military operation was initiated by Bukele to secure the safe return of the abducted individuals.
Both the military of El Salvador and the UN Gang Suppression Force, which is tasked with assisting Haitian law enforcement in combating powerful gangs, had previously announced efforts to locate and rescue the missing Salvadorans. However, due to intense fighting in the area, access was limited.
Bukele confirmed the launch of the military operation to rescue the hostages through a post on X, without disclosing specific details about the operation or the identity of the group responsible for holding the Salvadorans captive. The Gang Suppression Force did not provide an immediate response to requests for comments.
The four Salvadorans went missing after escaping from a burning armored vehicle that was ambushed by armed gangs on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. They were returning from a market to their base at the time of the incident, as reported by security officials.
Haitian gangs have strengthened their control over the capital and nearby areas in recent years due to a prolonged political vacuum, widespread extortion, and an influx of illegal weapons, primarily originating from the U.S. Countries like Chad and Sri Lanka have contributed troops to the Gang Suppression Force, which, after a year of operation, has only reached a fraction of its intended size and has had limited impact on improving security in Haiti.
Bukele clarified that the missing individuals were aviation technicians and not combatants. He emphasized that their role primarily involved conducting medical evacuations and saving lives, rather than engaging in warfare.
The government of Haiti issued a statement on Wednesday evening, highlighting the urgency of the situation and confirming that the release of the abducted technicians was a top priority. Measures to enhance operations and collaborate closely with the Gang Repression Force were being discussed to ensure the safe return of the hostages.
