El Salvador Launches Military Operation for Hostages in Haiti

El Salvador has initiated a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians who were kidnapped by gangs in Haiti, President Nayib Bukele announced Wednesday. Bukele issued a stern warning to the Haitian gangs, stating that a more forceful response would follow if the hostages are not released alive and unharmed.

The abduction occurred after gangs attacked an armored vehicle over the weekend in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets, Port-au-Prince. The four technicians were reported missing after fleeing the vehicle.

"Today’s attack is nothing compared to what is coming if they do not release the four hostages alive. And do not take our words as empty threats," Bukele declared, drawing parallels to his own controversial crackdown on gangs in El Salvador. It remains unclear if Bukele intends for Salvadoran forces to conduct the rescue or if he is referring to wider security forces operating in the region.

Haiti's government acknowledged the situation as an "absolute priority" and convened a high-level meeting to discuss strengthening operations in collaboration with the Gang Repression Force. The government stated that all necessary resources are being mobilized to ensure the safe release of the abducted personnel, though confirmation of their well-being has not been immediately established.

The victims are aviation technicians, and their primary role in Haiti has been medical evacuations, not combat, Bukele clarified. The UN-backed force in Haiti, which includes personnel from El Salvador, Chad, Jamaica, and Guatemala, is continuing its operations in the area where the attack took place.

The attack on the Salvadoran nationals comes amid escalating gang violence that has displaced nearly 1.5 million people in Haiti. Between January and mid-September, more than 5,700 people were killed or injured, and over 230 were kidnapped, according to United Nations data. The affected area is reportedly controlled by gangs such as Chèn Méchan, Kraze Barye, led by Vitelhomme Innocent, and 400 Mawozo, led by Lanmo Sanjou, whose leaders have faced sanctions from the U.N. and the U.S.

El Salvador originally deployed 5,550 security personnel and over 50 civilian staff to Haiti in 2025 as part of the multinational effort to combat gang activity. A law passed in early October extended El Salvador's participation in the force for another year and expanded its mandate to include deploying personnel based on mission needs. The United Nations Security Council has granted the multinational force an extension through March 2027.