El Salvador sent 100 special forces personnel to Haiti on Thursday, October 22, to help search for four Salvadoran aviation technicians who went missing after a gang attacked their vehicle.
The men were serving with the international Gang Suppression Force, which helps Haitian authorities fight armed gangs. The attack happened on October 18 in Croix-des-Bouquets, near Port-au-Prince. The technicians’ armored vehicle was shot at and hit with explosives, then caught fire.
The four men disappeared after getting out of the vehicle. Haitian officials described the men as abducted, but their whereabouts and condition remained unknown in the latest reports on October 23. The Salvadoran group arrived to help with search and security operations in the area, the force said.
An El Salvador government official, speaking anonymously, told the Associated Press that another 100 soldiers were expected to deploy later Thursday. Reports reviewed did not confirm whether the second group had arrived. President Nayib Bukele had announced a military operation to recover the men.
He warned gangs of a stronger response if the men were not returned alive and unharmed. The ongoing search has involved armed clashes. The force reported that at least seven gang members had been killed and four of its personnel wounded.