El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced Wednesday the launch of a military operation to rescue four Air Force personnel kidnapped by armed gangs in Haiti and missing since Sunday, warning of severe retaliation if they aren’t released alive and unharmed, according to the BBC.
🇸🇻🇭🇹 Nayib Bukele anunció una operación militar en Haití para rescatar a cuatro soldados salvadoreños secuestrados por pandillas locales. https://t.co/MaKm4IWaZJ
— Alerta Mundial (@AlertaMundoNews) October 21, 2026
The four soldiers were part of an international force to crack down on gangs in Haiti, approved by the UN Security Council earlier this month. Their role primarily involved medical evacuations and lifesaving operations, and according to Bukele, they were not combatants and did not participate in offensive operations against the gangs.
The incident occurred in the Croix-des-Bouquets area, controlled by armed criminal groups. According to El Salvador’s military, the four were attacked on their way back to base in an armored vehicle after going to buy food at a local market. During the ambush, explosives were detonated against the vehicle, which caught fire.
Dios mio!!! Nayib Bukele acaba de lanzar una operación militar en Haití para rescatar a cuatro salvadoreños secuestrados por líderes de pandillas https://t.co/QKCE5dlwmS
— Rolfy Martínez (@RolfyMartinez) October 21, 2026
Following the attack, Salvadoran military helicopters were scrambled to locate the missing personnel, but gunfire and difficult security conditions in the area hampered rescue attempts from the air and ground. So far, no gang has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
On Wednesday, Bukele announced he had ordered the military to launch an operation whose sole objective is to bring the four soldiers home alive. In a post on X, the president warned that the attack carried out so far is nothing compared to what awaits the kidnappers if they don’t release the hostages.
GOBIERNO ANUNCIA OPERATIVO PARA RESCATAR A CUATRO MILITARES SALVADOREÑOS
El Gobierno de Haití declaró prioridad absoluta la liberación de los cuatro militares salvadoreños secuestrados tras una emboscada el 18 de octubre en Croix-des-Bouquets, cerca de Puerto Príncipe.
El primer ministro reunió a funcionarios de seguridad y anunció el refuerzo de las operaciones contra las pandillas, en coordinación con la fuerza internacional. La respuesta llega después de que el presidente Nayib Bukele anunciara una ofensiva y advirtiera a los captores que enfrentarán acciones más contundentes si no liberan con vida a los soldados.
— News On Demand (@OnDemand_News) October 22, 2026
Bukele stressed that if the four airmen are returned alive and unharmed, the situation will return to normal, but made clear he won’t accept harm to his personnel. He said they are aircrew and technicians sent to Haiti to help save lives, not to participate in combat.
Meanwhile, the international force to crack down on gangs announced that its personnel are conducting searches for the four missing soldiers. During the operation, gunfire broke out with armed fighters, supported by helicopters, and according to initial reports, several gang members were killed.