Haiti Gangs Launch Major Assault on International Peacekeeping Force, Four Soldiers Missing
Four El Salvadoran soldiers are missing after a violent gang ambush in Port-au-Prince. Policy Wire reports on the escalating crisis in Haiti.
POLICY WIRE — San Juan, Puerto Rico — Four aviation technicians from El Salvador are currently missing following a violent ambush on their armored vehicle in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince. The weekend attack in the gang-controlled neighborhood of Croix-des-Bouquets marks the most significant strike against the international gang suppression force since it began operations in the country.
According to the Salvadoran military, the soldiers were returning to their base when their transport was targeted by explosives and gunfire, forcing the crew to abandon the burning vehicle. Despite multiple attempts to reach the area by land and air, rescue efforts have been repeatedly thwarted by the intensity of the ongoing combat.
U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz condemned the assault, stating that while the four men are believed to have survived, they remain unaccounted for. He issued a stern warning to the criminal groups, declaring that the coalition will not be intimidated into retreating from its mission to stabilize the nation.
The incident highlights the volatile security landscape in Haiti, where gangs control an estimated 70% of the capital. As the country prepares for its first general election in over a decade, officials warn that criminal organizations are increasingly testing the resolve of the international force, which currently has more than 2,000 troops deployed on the ground.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
