PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — El Salvador has deployed 100 special forces personnel to Haiti to help locate and rescue four Salvadoran military personnel who were abducted following an attack by armed gangs, as fighting continues to complicate efforts to reach the area.
The deployment was announced on Thursday, October 22, after the four aviation technicians disappeared during an attack on their armoured vehicle in Croix-des-Bouquets, near the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince. Another 100 Salvadoran soldiers were expected to arrive later that night, according to officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
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The additional troops arrived a day after Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation to rescue the missing personnel. He warned that his government would respond more forcefully if the men were not returned alive and unharmed.
Haitian authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the four soldiers had been abducted. The men were travelling in an armoured vehicle on Sunday when it came under gunfire and explosive attack. They reportedly escaped from the burning vehicle, but contact with them was subsequently lost.
El Salvador’s military and international security personnel have been working to establish their whereabouts. However, intense fighting and dangerous conditions in the area have restricted access by land and air.
The international Gang Suppression Force said a contingent of Salvadoran personnel had arrived to support ongoing search and security operations. The force is working alongside the Haitian National Police as authorities attempt to locate the missing men and confront the armed groups operating in the area.
The attack occurred in territory controlled by the Chèn Méchan gang, near areas where the powerful 400 Mawozo gang operates. Neither group had claimed responsibility for the assault at the time of reporting.
Diego Da Rin, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, warned that locating the missing personnel could prove extremely difficult without cooperation from the gangs.
He suggested that the abduction could be intended to discourage further security operations in gang-controlled communities rather than to secure a financial ransom.
The attack represents a major challenge for the international security mission, which was established to help Haitian police combat powerful criminal organisations and restore security across the country.
The Gang Suppression Force replaced a Kenya-led multinational mission that struggled with funding and personnel shortages. The new force is authorised to deploy 5,500 personnel, but only slightly more than 2,000 were on the ground at the time of the attack.
The mission includes personnel from several countries, including El Salvador, Chad, Guatemala and Jamaica. Its responsibilities include supporting Haitian authorities in operations against armed gangs that have seized control of extensive areas of the capital and surrounding communities.
Security analysts have also raised concerns about the risks of launching large-scale operations before the force has sufficient personnel and resources. They warn that intensified pressure on individual gangs could encourage rival groups to coordinate attacks against security forces.
The violence has continued to displace civilians and undermine efforts to restore political stability. Haiti is preparing for elections after years of political turmoil, but widespread gang activity remains a significant obstacle to establishing safer conditions for voting.
The deployment of additional Salvadoran personnel signals a renewed effort to recover the missing soldiers, although their whereabouts and condition remained unknown as the search continued.
The incident has also highlighted the dangers confronting international personnel and the challenges facing the multinational mission as it attempts to weaken armed groups entrenched in Haiti.
