Politics · Other · 2 hrs ago
El Salvador sends more than 2,000 troops to Haiti to search for four missing personnel
El Salvador has sent more than 2,000 troops to Haiti to help find four Salvadoran personnel missing after an ambush.
The four disappeared on October 18 when attackers targeted their armored vehicle near Port-au-Prince as they returned from a market.
The new troops are joining forces already searching the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac area.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé thanked El Salvador but said foreign forces are there to support Haiti, not replace its government.
His comments come as questions grow about how Salvadoran troops are operating and who directs them.
The U.N. has said most of El Salvador’s personnel in Haiti are not operating under the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force framework, and has stressed that operations must respect international law.
The search for the four missing personnel is continuing as Haiti faces powerful gangs that control much of its capital and have expanded violence into the countryside.
El Salvador sent more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti to help search for four Salvadoran personnel missing after an ambush.
The four members of the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force disappeared on October 18 when attackers targeted their armored vehicle near Port-au-Prince.
The new troops will join forces already deployed to search the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac area.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said his government is responsible for directing foreign forces.
The role of the Salvadoran troops has drawn scrutiny, including over whether they are operating within the U.N.-backed force’s framework.
- Who
- El Salvador sent more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti to search for four missing Salvadoran personnel.
- What
- The troops were deployed to support a rescue and search operation after an ambush.
- When
- The four personnel disappeared on October 18. El Salvador announced the deployment on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
- Where
- The search is in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac area near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
- Why
- The four personnel went missing after attackers targeted their armored vehicle as they returned from a market.
Haitian government and El Salvador
Critics and U.N. officials raising concerns
Direction of foreign forces
Haitian government and El Salvador
Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé said Haiti is responsible for directing foreign forces and that they are there to support the state.
Critics and U.N. officials raising concerns
A source familiar with operations said El Salvador lacked several agreements before the attack, while U.N. officials said most Salvadoran personnel were not operating under the U.N.-backed force’s framework.
Conduct of operations
Haitian government and El Salvador
El Salvador’s government lobbyist said its forces coordinate closely with the gang suppression force and the Haitian prime minister’s office.
Critics and U.N. officials raising concerns
U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said people’s rights need to be respected during security operations.
Four Salvadoran personnel disappeared after attackers targeted their armored vehicle as they returned from a market.
Haiti’s prime minister spoke publicly about concerns over the role and direction of Salvadoran troops.
El Salvador said it was deploying more than 2,000 soldiers to support the search for the missing personnel.
- Salvadoran deployment
- More than 2,000 soldiers
- Missing personnel
- Four Salvadorans serving in the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force
- Ambush date
- October 18
- Search area
- Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, near Port-au-Prince
- Haiti’s prime minister
- Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
- Gang leader who sought dialogue
- Wilson Joseph
4 sources
What people are saying
The international force is not here to replace the state
We are leading this fight with determination against the gangs to eradicate them
People’s rights need to be respected as you conduct security operations
the only ones operating outside international law are the gangs