El Salvador deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti on October 22, 2026, following the abduction of four Salvadoran aviation technicians during an explosive ambush on October 18 in Croix-des-Bouquets. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele issued a direct ultimatum to Haitian gangs, threatening military force if the hostages are not returned unharmed. Joint combat operations involving the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force and Haitian police are underway in gang-controlled territory.
El Salvador's military rescue operation
- ▪El Salvador deployed helicopters to assist attempts to rescue the four missing Salvadoran aviation technicians in Haiti, but land and air approaches were repeatedly hampered by heavy fighting and local security conditions
- ▪El Salvador deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti on October 22, 2026, with an additional 100 planned for deployment that night to rescue four missing military technicians
Bukele's ultimatum and gang response
- ▪Haitian gang leader Krisla released a video asserting that gang members would fight to the end against Salvadoran forces, alleging President Nayib Bukele deployed troops to protect financial interests
- ▪President Nayib Bukele issued an ultimatum to Haitian gang leaders in Creole on October 21, 2026, threatening direct action if the four Salvadoran soldiers abducted on October 18, 2026 are not returned alive and unharmed
Ambush of Salvadoran soldiers in Croix-Des-Bouquets
- ▪Four Salvadoran aviation technicians with the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force went missing in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, after being ambushed on October 18, 2026, while returning from buying market food
- ▪The four Salvadoran soldiers fled their armored vehicle in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets after Haitian gangs targeted the vehicle with gunfire and explosives, causing it to catch fire
- ▪The October 18 attack on the Salvadoran soldiers in Croix-des-Bouquets occurred in territory controlled by the Chèn Méchan gang, near areas controlled by Kraze Barye and 400 Mawozo
International gang suppression force
- ▪The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force in Haiti consists of over 2,000 personnel from countries including El Salvador, Chad, Jamaica, and Guatemala, out of a planned 5,500 total personnel
- ▪The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force replaced a Kenyan-led mission in Haiti that struggled to help Haitian police quell gang violence due to a lack of resources and funds
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