Gangs in Haiti targeted an armored vehicle in the Croix‑des‑Bouquets district of Port‑au‑Prince over the weekend, leaving four Salvadoran aviation technicians missing. The incident marks the first major assault on the international gang suppression force since it began operations in September 2025.
Details of the attack
According to a statement from the Salvadoran armed forces, the four technicians were returning to their camp when explosives were detonated against their vehicle, setting it ablaze. The men managed to escape the burning vehicle, but their whereabouts remain unknown. Helicopters dispatched to the scene also came under fire as they attempted to disperse the armed assailants.
“Multiple attempts to approach by land and air have been made, but these have been hampered by the intensity of the fighting,” the Salvadoran military said.
International response
U.N. Security Council member Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., condemned the attack, stating, “We believe the four men survived, but they do remain unaccounted for. We will bring you home.” He described the assault as “cowardly” and warned the gangs that intimidation would not succeed.
Jack Christofides, the special representative of the gang suppression force, told the council that the force is assessing the situation and has advised residents near the attack site to remain indoors. He noted a recent uptick in attacks against the force, saying, “Gangs are testing the gang suppression force.” Christofides added that the force has begun to see early signs of reduced gang influence in certain neighborhoods.
U.N. and Haitian officials weigh in
Wien‑Weibert Arthus, Haiti’s deputy permanent representative to the U.N., told the council that the weapons used by the gangs are not produced in Haiti and will continue to find ways to enter the country. He called the incident a reminder of the complex security challenges facing Haiti.
Romain Le Cour, head of the Haiti Observatory at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, said some gangs are under pressure from the suppression force, while others seek to demonstrate they can strike back.
Background on the gang suppression force
The U.N. Security Council authorized a 5,550‑member multinational force in September 2025 to replace a previous Kenya‑led mission that struggled with funding and resources. The current force includes troops from Chad, Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador, totaling more than 2,000 personnel on the ground.
Christofides asserted that the force is making a difference with the resources it has, and authorities have observed early reductions in gang control in some areas.
Election preparations amid violence
Despite the security turmoil, Haiti is preparing for its first general election in over a decade. U.N. special envoy Carlos Ruiz Massieu said electoral preparations have reached an unprecedented level of progress, with more than 35 parties and 3,500 candidates registered.
Among the candidates is former Haitian President Michel Martelly, who was sanctioned by Canada in 2022 and by the United States in 2024 for alleged involvement in drug trafficking and gang sponsorship.
Implications for the region
The attack highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the international community in stabilizing Haiti. Continued support from the United States and other partners is expected as the suppression force works to protect civilians and enable a credible electoral process.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
