World News
Four Salvadoran troops reportedly unaccounted for after gang attack in Haiti
El Salvador's president says a rescue operation has begun, while the men's status remains unconfirmed.
Latest update: El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele announced a military rescue operation after gangs kidnapped four Salvadoran aviation technicians in Haiti.
The short version
- Gangs attacked an armored vehicle carrying Salvadoran personnel with explosives in Croix-des-Bouquets on Sunday.[Al Jazeera]
- Four men are unaccounted for after fleeing the burning vehicle; El Salvador's armed forces call them aviation technicians.[Al Jazeera]
- Helicopters sent to find them were fired upon, and fighting has hampered search attempts by land and air.[Associated Press · Al Jazeera]
- El Salvador's president says a rescue operation has begun and has demanded the men be freed alive; no group has claimed the attack.[Associated Press · NPR]
Key facts
- Four Salvadoran soldiers went missing after gangs attacked their armored vehicle with explosives on Sunday in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti.[Associated Press · Al Jazeera]
- El Salvador's armed forces said the four men, described as aviation technicians, were returning to camp when they came under attack.[PBS NewsHour · Al Jazeera]
- Helicopters sent to locate the men were fired upon, and Salvadoran statements say fighting hampered land and air approach attempts.[Associated Press · Al Jazeera]
- President Nayib Bukele said he launched a military operation to rescue the men and demanded they be returned alive and unharmed.[NPR]
- US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the United States believes the four men survived but remain unaccounted for.[PBS NewsHour]
- Haiti's government called the abduction an absolute priority and said resources are being mobilized.[NPR]
- No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.[Associated Press · PBS NewsHour · Al Jazeera]
- The attack is the first major one against the international gang suppression force since it began operations earlier this year.[Associated Press · Al Jazeera]
What remains uncertain
- Whether the four men are alive remains unconfirmed; it was not immediately clear whether Haitian authorities had confirmation.[NPR]
- Reporting uses different labels: the men are described as soldiers and as aviation technicians, and Bukele describes them as kidnapped.[PBS NewsHour · Al Jazeera · NPR]
- Which forces will carry out the rescue and what further actions are planned were not specified.[NPR]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Search under way for four soldiers missing after gang attack in HaitiAl Jazeera
- Gangs in Haiti target foreign troops in biggest attack since new force began operationsAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press
- Bukele says military operation launched to rescue Salvadorans held by gangs in HaitiNPR - World
- Haitian gangs target foreign troops in biggest attack since force began operationsPBS NewsHour - World · Wire: associated-press