A group of suspected Haitian gang members opened fire on U.S. Marines guarding the American Embassy in Port-au-Prince this week, underscoring the deepening security crisis in the country.
Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Steven J. Keenan confirmed in an email that the attack occurred on Thursday, adding that the Marines returned fire. No U.S. personnel were injured. Haitian police have not yet commented on the incident.
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The gunfire comes as gangs maintain control of 90% of Haiti’s capital, wielding high-powered weapons, extorting businesses, and violently competing for territory. Despite the extreme instability, the United States continues to operate its embassy, even as the State Department repeatedly warns Americans against traveling to the country due to rampant kidnappings, violent crime, terrorist threats, and civil unrest.
More than 1.3 million Haitians have been displaced by gang violence in recent years, according to the United Nations. Conditions have worsened dramatically since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, an event that plunged the country into a prolonged power vacuum. No elections have been held since Moïse’s killing, leaving political leadership in limbo and further enabling criminal groups to expand their influence.
In an effort to curb the violence, the UN Security Council approved the creation of a multinational security mission in late September—a 5,500-member force tasked with suppressing Haiti’s heavily armed gangs. A smaller Kenyan-led police deployment has struggled to make significant progress, with gangs responsible for 5,600 killings last year, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
The embassy firefight is the latest reminder of the dangerous environment confronting both Haitians and international personnel as the country awaits a viable path toward security and governance.
