Heavily armed gangs opened fire on an armoured vehicle belonging to the international security force in Haiti over the weekend, leaving four Salvadoran soldiers missing.
The incident marks the first major assault on the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) since the mission began operations nearly six months ago.
The attack took place on Sunday in Croix-des-Bouquets, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince that was once relatively calm but is now under the control of violent criminal groups.
El Salvador’s armed forces reported that contact with the four soldiers was lost after they escaped from their burning vehicle. Officials said they are coordinating with international partners to locate the missing personnel and determine their condition.
Helicopters sent to the scene also came under fire while trying to disperse armed men in the area. “Multiple attempts to approach by land and air have been made, but these have been hampered by the intensity of the fighting,” the Salvadoran military stated.
Jack Christofides, the GSF’s special representative, told the United Nations on Monday that gangs appear to be testing the force. “We recorded an increase in hostile incidents against our force, from two to fifteen in a single month,” he said. He added that the full circumstances of the attack are still being established, and the mission is reviewing implications for force protection, operational security and support.
Christofides also warned that gangs have carried out reprisal killings in some areas after operations by Haitian and international forces, and have expanded their presence in certain districts.
US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz strongly condemned the attack during a Security Council meeting on Haiti. “To the gang bosses terrorizing Haiti, your days of operating with impunity are numbered,” he said. “You can burn vehicles, erect barricades, terrorise the local police, terrorise civilians, but the Gang Suppression Force is coming for you.”
In a statement, the GSF said it is assessing the situation and has advised residents in the affected area to stay indoors. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident comes as Haiti prepares for its first general elections in more than a decade and underscores the strength of the gangs that control an estimated 70 per cent of the capital. The international force is working to increase its troop numbers while confronting violence that has claimed more than 21,000 lives over the past four years and forced nearly 1.5 million people from their homes.
