On October 18, 2026, armed gangs in the Santo area of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, attacked a Salvadoran air force armored vehicle with explosives and gunfire, setting it on fire.
On October 18, 2026, the four Salvadoran air force technicians escaped their burning armored vehicle after the ambush in Santo, Haiti, and contact with them was lost.
On October 18, 2026, Salvadoran helicopters dispatched to assist the ambushed soldiers in Santo, Haiti, came under fire from gangs.
Four of our air force technicians are unaccounted for after their armored vehicle was attacked and set on fire by gangs in Haiti.
Our four soldiers managed to escape the burning armored vehicle before contact was lost.
Our helicopters dispatched to the area also came under fire from gangs.
On October 19, 2026, the UN Security Council held a meeting in New York about Haiti, where officials condemned the ambush and discussed the security situation.
We believe the four soldiers survived the attack, but they remain unaccounted for.
Gangs are testing the Gang Suppression Force, and hostile incidents against us have increased over the last month.
The force is making a difference with what it has, and we are seeing early signs of reduced gang influence in certain areas.
The weapons and ammunition gangs use are not made in Haiti and will continue to find ways to enter the country.
Elections in Haiti could happen next year if security allows.
If these soldiers are indeed being held, the gangs gain an edge to negotiate and pressure the security forces.
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