Helicopters buzz overhead in Port-au-Prince as Salvadoran soldiers join the U.N.-backed Gang Suppression Force to combat Haiti's rampant violence. Four Salvadoran special forces members were ambushed Sunday and are now missing, prompting hundreds more expected to arrive. The ambush marks a critical flashpoint, with President Nayib Bukele threatening severe retaliation if his soldiers aren't returned alive.
The force is now operating in Croix-des-Bouquets, one of Haiti's most entrenched gang strongholds, where gangs control much of the capital and force residents into dangerous exodus. Since President Arielson's assassination five years ago, over 22,000 killed, with 5,000+ this year alone. The G.
S. F., five times larger than previous efforts, faces steep challenges beyond combat—Haiti lacks infrastructure to hold cleared areas, and the December elections seem unrealistic amid ongoing chaos.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing