El Salvador President Nayib Bukele has initiated a military operation in Haiti aimed at rescuing four Salvadoran aviation technicians who were kidnapped by criminal gangs. The move received immediate backing from the United States following international condemnation of the abduction, which was addressed at the U.N. Security Council.
In a message posted on X, Bukele clarified that the kidnapped individuals were not combat personnel but aviation technicians tasked with coordinating medical evacuations and humanitarian assistance in Haiti. He described the men as having been “cowardly kidnapped” while returning from a supermarket where they had gone to purchase food.
“Today we launched combat operations to rescue them. We have only one objective: to bring our four compatriots home safe and sound,” Bukele stated. He issued a stern ultimatum to gang leaders in Haiti, warning them of severe consequences if the technicians were not returned alive. “We have already eliminated the gangs in El Salvador, and we can eliminate you, too,” he added.
The current operation marks only the initial phase of what Bukele indicated could escalate into a larger military intervention if deemed necessary. This action was prompted by an ambush on Sunday involving the Salvadoran technicians from El Salvador’s Freedom Task Force II, which is part of a multinational security mission operating in Haiti.
The technicians were ambushed in Croix-des-Bouquets, near Port-au-Prince, as they returned from a food supply trip. Reports indicate that heavily armed gang members attacked their armored vehicle with gunfire and explosives. The Salvadoran team managed to escape the vehicle prior to its ignition, but contact was lost as they fled on foot through a territory controlled by gangs.
The kidnapping drew a swift response from the international community at the U.N. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz condemned the act and reaffirmed Washington’s support for the rescue operations led by Salvadoran forces and their international partners. He also noted that intelligence suggested the Salvadorans had survived the attack and pledged help in their recovery.
Waltz warned the gangs operating in Port-au-Prince that they were making a significant mistake if they thought such acts would intimidate the international security mission.
In response to the situation, the Haitian government has declared the rescue of the Salvadoran personnel an “absolute priority.” In a statement on social media, officials reaffirmed their commitment to restoring order and securing the release of those kidnapped. The government is reportedly continuing its operations to ensure the safety of the individuals involved. A photo accompanying the statement showed Haitian officials convening to coordinate their response.
