Port-au-Prince:El Salvador has deployed special forces to Haiti in a bid to rescue four Salvadoran military technicians who were kidnapped by armed gangs. President Nayib Bukele has dismissed concerns about the operation's dangers and is committed to rescuing the hostages.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, around 200 Salvadoran soldiers arrived in Port-au-Prince on Thursday and Friday to aid in the search for the kidnapped technicians. The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) confirmed their arrival to support ongoing operations outside the capital.
The special forces are collaborating with the Haitian National Police and other security entities in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac area. The GSF has advised local residents to avoid areas where these security operations are taking place.
The four technicians were abducted on Sunday after their armored vehicle was ambushed and set on fire by armed men in Santo, near Port-au-Prince. While they managed to escape the burning vehicle, they have not been heard from since. Haitian authorities have confirmed the abduction, but the men's condition and whereabouts remain unknown.
President Bukele announced the military rescue operation on Wednesday, demanding the safe return of the technicians and warning of a stronger response if they are harmed. He described the missing personnel as noncombatant aviation technicians involved in medical evacuations.
The gang leader Wilson Joseph, known as Lanmo San Jou, responded to Bukele's warnings by displaying ammunition in a video and challenging Salvadoran forces. No gang has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
Despite warnings about the threat posed by Haiti's heavily armed gangs, Bukele remains confident. He dismissed concerns, insisting that his forces will succeed, and criticized the Haitian gangs without providing evidence for his claims.
The deployment occurs amidst escalating violence between armed gangs and international security forces, authorized by the UN to aid Haitian police. Gang violence in Haiti has led to widespread displacement and a deepening humanitarian crisis, with nearly 1.5 million people displaced according to UN estimates.