SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — El Salvador has dispatched a contingent of 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti to assist in the search for four missing Salvadoran soldiers who were attacked by gangs. The deployment took place on Thursday, following an announcement by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele regarding a military operation aimed at rescuing the soldiers.
The four aviation technicians went missing after their armored vehicle came under gunfire and explosives in Croix-des-Bouquets last Sunday. Haiti’s government confirmed the abduction on Wednesday, marking its first public acknowledgment of the incident. The Salvadoran government is operating under the belief that the missing soldiers are still alive, according to an official not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
In addition to the initial 100 soldiers, another 100 are expected to join the operation on Thursday evening. The newly formed gang suppression force in Haiti issued a statement confirming that El Salvador’s “contingent” has arrived to support ongoing search and security operations where the attack occurred.
The situation is complicated by the presence of the Chèn Méchan gang, which controls the area where the attack took place, and the more powerful 400 Mawozo gang nearby. Despite the severe gang violence in the region, no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the assault, and local analysts suggest that the missing soldiers may be used as leverage in negotiations with authorities.
Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, highlighted the challenges of locating the soldiers, comparing the task to “finding a needle in a haystack.” He remarked that the lack of adequate security for the Salvadorans in such a dangerous area raises questions about their presence there.
Since the attack, authorities have been engaged in ongoing clashes with armed groups, and the Haitian National Police, along with private security contractors, are working with the gang suppression force in a joint effort against the gangs. Residents in the area have been instructed to remain indoors due to the escalating violence.
The gang suppression force currently comprises over 2,000 personnel, significantly short of the planned 5,500, leaving it ill-prepared for large-scale operations against well-armed gangs. Concerns remain that an offensive push could lead to coordinated gang counterattacks.
On the eve of the deployment, a gang leader, known as Krisla, expressed defiance in a video post, criticizing Bukele’s involvement. He stated, “They have bigger weapons and more technology than we do, but we’ll fight to the end.” No comment has yet been made by El Salvador’s presidential office regarding the ongoing situation.
