Four Salvadoran soldiers are missing after heavily armed gangs attacked an armoured vehicle belonging to the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF) in Haiti, in the force’s first major assault since operations began nearly six months ago.
The attack occurred on Sunday in Croix-des-Bouquets, a community in the capital, Port-au-Prince, now under the control of violent gangs.
El Salvador’s military said contact with the four soldiers was lost after they escaped from the burning vehicle.
It added that it was working with international forces to locate the missing personnel and establish contact with them.
According to the military, helicopters deployed to the area also came under fire while attempting to disperse armed gang members.
“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 said.
The attack came amid growing hostility towards the international force, with the GSF’s special representative, Jack Christofides, telling the United Nations Security Council on Monday that gangs were increasingly challenging its operations.
“Gangs are testing the GSF. We recorded an increase in hostile incidents against our force, from two to fifteen in a single month,” Christofides said.
He added that the circumstances surrounding the latest incident were still being investigated, including its implications for the force’s protection, operational security and support arrangements.
Christofides also warned that gangs had carried out retaliatory killings in some communities following operations by Haitian and international forces, while expanding their presence into additional areas.
The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, condemned the attack and warned gang leaders against continuing their activities.
“To the gang bosses terrorising Haiti, your days of operating with impunity are numbered,” Waltz said during the Security Council meeting.
He added that the GSF would continue its operations against armed groups responsible for violence in the Caribbean nation.
In a statement, the GSF said it was assessing the situation and advised residents in the affected area to remain indoors.
No group had claimed responsibility for the attack as of the time of reporting.
The incident underscores the security challenges facing Haiti as the country prepares for its first general election in more than a decade.
Armed gangs are estimated to control about 70 per cent of Port-au-Prince, severely limiting government authority and access to essential services in affected communities.
The international security force is seeking to recruit additional personnel as it works with Haitian authorities to contain the violence.
More than 21,000 people have been killed in gang-related violence in Haiti over the past four years, while ongoing clashes have forced nearly 1.5 million people to flee their homes in recent years.
