El Salvador deploys 100 special forces to Haiti after soldiers ambushed by gangs
President Bukele sent 100 special forces to Haiti after four Salvadoran soldiers were ambushed by armed gangs. A second deployment of 100 more troops is reportedly being considered.
Bukele sends special forces to Haiti after gang ambush on Salvadoran troops
El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti on Thursday following a gang ambush that left four Salvadoran military personnel missing since Sunday, the Miami Herald reports. A second source told the outlet that an additional 100 soldiers may be sent to Port-au-Prince.
"It's only the beginning," a source familiar with the deployment said.
Bukele announced on Wednesday via a post on X that additional soldiers would be sent to Haiti but gave no specifics. Sources indicated that negotiations over the precise form of the deployment were still ongoing at the time. The Salvadoran troops are operating under the command of the United Nations-authorised Gang Suppression Force.
Ambush at a supermarket
The four soldiers, assigned to an aviation unit with the gang-fighting force, were returning to camp after shopping at a supermarket in the Santo 19 area when they were attacked. Travelling in an armoured white Toyota Land Cruiser, they were surrounded by heavily armed members of the Chen Mechan gang. The gunmen opened fire on the vehicle and, after receiving reinforcements from the 400 Mawozo gang, set it ablaze using an explosive device, multiple sources told the Herald.
The Armed Forces of El Salvador stated the men had managed to escape, but they have remained unaccounted for since the attack. Search operations are continuing.
The incident marks the first major episode involving the international armed force since it began deploying to Haiti alongside Chadian soldiers in April. It is also the first time soldiers have been ambushed whilst not engaged in active combat.
Analysts warn of escalating gang tactics
María Fernanda Arocha, Central America research manager at Armed Conflict Location & Event Data — which has been tracking Haiti's gang violence — said the attack illustrates how gangs continue to adapt.
"Haiti's gangs have escalated their violence as they are increasingly willing and able to confront international forces directly," Arocha said, adding that the ambush further threatens Haiti's already fragile political transition.
Gang leaders respond online
At least one gang leader, known by the name Krisla, reacted to Bukele's deployment in a video circulating online. He invoked Jean-Jacques Dessalines — the former slave turned national hero who led Haiti's revolution against France in the early 1800s — and warned that Salvadoran forces who come to fight will meet resistance. Krisla controls Carrefour, a district west of Port-au-Prince that has been under gang control for more than two years.
A separate video began circulating on Thursday showing gang leader Lanmo San Jou, real name Wilson Joseph, appearing visibly tired and dishevelled. It was unclear when the footage was recorded. Lanmo San Jou controls large areas of eastern Port-au-Prince and is now aligned with the Chen Mechan gang. He is amongst the gang figures wanted by the FBI in connection with the kidnapping of US citizens, including a group of missionaries. His gang belongs to the Viv Ansanm coalition, which the Trump administration has designated a foreign terrorist organisation.
In the video, Lanmo San Jou points a camera towards buckets he describes as containing high-powered ammunition and issues a warning in Creole.
"Where should we go? Uh? Where should we go? We have nowhere to go, my general. Understood? If we have to fight to stay alive, we will fight," he said.
His tone stood in contrast to recent weeks, during which he had hosted live TikTok sessions from what appeared to be a lavish mansion.
Source: Google News MT