El Salvador Deploys 2,000 Troops to Rescue Missing Technicians in Haiti

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has deployed more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti to rescue four military aviation technicians who disappeared on October 18. The technicians, members of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), were abducted after gangs attacked their armored vehicle with explosives and gunfire in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets.

Following the disappearance, Bukele launched a military operation and issued ultimatums to Haitian gang leaders, warning that he would finish the gangs as he had in El Salvador. The deployment grew from an initial 100 special forces operators to over 2,000 troops by late October, supported by logistical assistance from the United States and Colombia. U.S. President Donald Trump signaled his approval of the escalation, telling Bukele to "Do what you have to do."

Confusion arose on October 25 when reports surfaced that four burned bodies recovered near Port-au-Prince were the missing technicians. Bukele publicly refuted these claims, stating the remains included a child and a Chadian soldier, and maintained that his men were still alive. The Government of Haiti has designated the rescue an absolute priority, though the broader security crisis has forced the postponement of general elections from December 2026 to July 2027.

As of October 30, the technicians remain unaccounted for. The Salvadoran forces are operating alongside the GSF and the private security firm Vectus Global to combat gangs that control vast portions of the capital.