El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has initiated a military operation to rescue four air force personnel who have been missing in Haiti since Sunday. In a post on X, Bukele stated that Wednesday's attack was "nothing" compared to the consequences if the hostages—whom he described as non-combatants—were not returned alive.
Context of the Incident
The four personnel went missing after being ambushed by "heavily armed criminal groups," according to El Salvador's armed forces. The ambush took place in Croix-des-Bouquets, an area known for being controlled by armed groups. These personnel were part of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), which was approved by the United Nations Security Council earlier this month to address the escalating gang violence in Haiti.
Details of the Military Operation
Bukele explained that the mission involved pilots and technical personnel whose primary roles were to "carry out medical evacuations and save lives, not to wage war." He emphasized that the sole objective of the Salvadoran military operation was to bring the four men back home safely. He stated that if all four were returned unharmed, "everything will go back to how it was before the kidnapping."
