El Salvador launches military operation to free four hostages in Haiti

El Salvador has launched a military operation in Haiti to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians kidnapped by gangs, Euronews reported on Wednesday. President Nayib Bukele announced the mission after the men went missing following an attack on Sunday. [1][4][5]

According to Euronews, the four men fled from a burning vehicle after gangs opened fire on an armoured transport in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets, located on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. The incident marks the first major attack on the international gang suppression force since its deployment began. [1]

Euronews and Modern Tokyo Times both reported that Bukele warned of a far more powerful and forceful operation if the kidnapped technicians are not returned alive and unharmed. Other international reporting from Reuters and Internazionale confirmed that El Salvador considers the four personnel to be held hostage by Haitian gangs. [1][2][3][6]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, initial reports following Sunday's ambush outside Port-au-Prince differed on whether four or five personnel were missing after attackers used gunfire and explosives to set the patrol vehicle on fire. Port-au-Prince has seen ongoing armed conflict between rival gangs and state security forces, with gangs controlling vast portions of the capital city. [8][11]