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Four Salvadoran soldiers are missing after violent gangs attacked an armoured vehicle carrying United Nations-backed troops in Croix-des-Bouquets, north of Port-au-Prince. The incident marks the first major assault on the international force since its deployment earlier this year.
The soldiers, identified as aviation technicians from the Armed Forces of El Salvador, were returning to camp when their vehicle was struck by explosives on Sunday. While the crew managed to flee the burning wreckage, they remain unaccounted for. Multiple attempts by land and air to locate them have been hampered by intense fighting. Helicopters dispatched to establish contact also came under fire while dispersing personnel. The Gang Suppression Force (GSF) has advised residents to remain indoors as it assesses the situation.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, the area is controlled by powerful gangs, including Kraze Barye and 400 Mawozo, whose leaders face UN and US sanctions. This violence underscores the fragility of Haiti’s security landscape as the nation prepares for its first general election in over a decade. The GSF, which officially began operations on June 1, currently deploys more than 1,500 troops from nations including Chad, Jamaica, and Guatemala. A UN statement indicates the force is expected to reach full operational capacity by year-end.
The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday, with the attack expected to dominate discussions. Since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021, Haiti has endured extreme violence, political deadlock, and humanitarian crises. Recent UN data reports at least 5,700 people killed or injured from January to mid-September, alongside 230 kidnappings and record displacement figures.