The government of El Salvador announced a deployment of over 2,000 soldiers in Haiti to locate four Salvadoran aerotechnicians who have been missing since October 18, while President Nayib Bukele continues his warnings against the gangs operating in the Caribbean nation.
The Salvadoran Foreign Ministry reported on a large-scale operation, supported by several countries and international organizations, following a telephone conversation between Bukele and Haitian Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
During the call, both discussed the rescue of the four soldiers and cooperation on security matters.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Bukele emphasized the effectiveness of the operation, thanked the support of the Haitian authorities, and reaffirmed El Salvador's commitment to continue combating gangs in Haiti.
Bukele warns the gangs: "God will grant us victory."
The mobilization comes after Bukele issued an ultimatum to the Haitian gangs, demanding they release the four missing soldiers alive.
In a message disseminated days earlier in Haitian Creole, Bukele warned gang leaders: “Today’s attack is nothing compared to what is coming if you do not release the four living hostages.”
On October 23, the president once again took to his X account to respond to those questioning El Salvador's ability to confront the powerful Haitian criminal organizations.
Bukele rejected the warnings about gang armament, the failure of previous international missions, and the risk that the Salvadoran intervention might end in defeat.
"But when God grants us victory, those who say all of this today will change their tune," wrote the president, who stated that he will not alter his strategy in response to criticism.
He also stated that the participating military personnel are believers and that they had entrusted the mission to God. In that message, he described the Haitian gangs as "satanic" and accused them of committing human sacrifices.
“God will grant us victory. The Creator of the Universe is with us,” he concluded, before quoting a biblical passage from Deuteronomy about the defeat of enemies.
More than 2,000 soldiers to search for four missing persons
The deployment represents a significant increase in El Salvador's presence in Haiti, where El Salvador participates in the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a multinational mission supported by the United Nations.
Before the attack against the aerotechnicians, the Salvadoran contingent consisted of around 124 personnel. Following the disappearance, reinforcements began to arrive, including members of specialized units.
According to information cited by the EFE agency, on October 27, a contingent of 690 military personnel arrived, bringing the Salvadoran presence to approximately 1,300 troops. Subsequently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced an operation with more than 2,000 soldiers, without specifying how many were already on the ground.
The four aeronautical technicians disappeared on October 18, when armed men attacked with gunfire and explosives the armored vehicle in which they were traveling through Croix-des-Bouquets, about 12 kilometers from Port-au-Prince.
The vehicle was left in flames, and since then, contact has been lost with its occupants.
Bukele explained that the missing individuals were aviation specialists primarily dedicated to medical evacuations, not combat soldiers.
The area of the attack is under the influence of criminal organizations such as Chen Mechan and 400 Mawozo, although it has not been publicly established which one carried out the ambush.
The leader of 400 Mawozo, Wilson Joseph, known as Lanmò San Jou, responded to Bukele's threats and denied having the four Salvadorans in captivity.
Uncertainty surrounding the four military personnel
The search continues amid conflicting information about the fate of the aerotechnicians. In recent days, reports have circulated regarding the discovery of human remains that could be related to the missing individuals.
However, Bukele publicly denied that possibility and stated that the remains found did not belong to his men.
The rescue operation involves the cooperation of Haitian authorities, although the increase in Salvadoran forces has also raised questions about the scope and duration of the intervention.
At the close of Thursday, October 29, the authorities had not announced the whereabouts of the four Salvadoran aerotechnicians, while the search continued in gang-controlled areas.
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