El Salvador deploys troops to Haiti to rescue four kidnapped aviation technicians

El Salvador announced a military operation in Haiti on October 21 to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians who were kidnapped during an international mission. President Nayib Bukele said the mission consists only of pilots and technical personnel carrying out medical evacuations, not waging war.

The four men were kidnapped on Sunday while returning from buying food at a market outside the capital. They were part of the UN-backed Multinational Security Support mission and were last seen in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac area.

Around 200 Salvadoran troops arrived in Port-au-Prince on Thursday and Friday to support search operations. The Gang Suppression Force said its forces continue working in close coordination with the Haitian National Police and other operational partners.

An ambush involving hundreds of gunshots and explosives targeted an armored vehicle carrying the soldiers. A U.S. diplomat told the UN Security Council on Monday that he believed the four men survived but remained missing.

Bukele warned gang leaders that the attack was nothing compared with what would follow if the hostages were not returned alive. He said the decision was in their hands and that El Salvador had already defeated gangs at home.

The Haitian government was preparing a response as the operation continued, according to the initial report. Residents of Santo and nearby communities were urged to avoid areas where operations were underway.