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Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation in Haiti to retrieve four Salvadoran aviation technicians abducted by gangs, describing them as noncombatants whose main task was medical evacuations. He warned of escalating action if any hostage is harmed, signaling a potential broader confrontation beyond the initial rescue effort. El Salvador participates in a multinational Gang Suppression Force in Haiti, conducting medical evacuations, search and rescue, and aerial patrols as part of a UN-backed mission. The operation follows international authorization and a one-year extension of Salvadoran participation, with the outcome of the crews’ safety and the situation in Haiti still uncertain.
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Four Salvadoran aviation technicians on an international mission in Haiti were abducted while returning from a market to buy food; they were described as noncombatants with primary duties including medical evacuations.
Bukele asserted that the Salvadoran government had already tackled gangs in El Salvador and claimed the Haitian operation would achieve a similar result, posting the message in Haitian Creole via X.
The government launched a military operation on Wednesday specifically to recover the hostages alive, warning that any harm to the captives would trigger harsher actions and that conditions could revert to their pre-kidnapping state if the hostages are freed unharmed.
El Salvador contributes troops to the multinational Gang Suppression Force in Haiti, with roles including medical evacuations, search and rescue, aerial patrols, and support for Haitian police operations, according to the Defense Ministry.
The UN Security Council authorized the force in September 2025 to assist Haitian authorities against armed gangs, allowing up to 5,550 personnel, while Salvadoran lawmakers extended the country's participation for an initial 12 months starting October 2.
The Salvadoran mission encompasses aircraft and both military and civilian personnel; Bukele did not specify which gang is holding the technicians, the size of the rescue force, or a timeline for their release.