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El Salvador Sends Special Forces to Rescue Missing Haiti Soldiers

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 6:33 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

El Salvador deployed about 450 special-forces troops to Haiti to rescue four missing soldiers.
Gangs ambushed their armored vehicle in Santo, Croix-des-Bouquets on October 18, causing it to catch fire.
The four technicians fled on foot but lost contact shortly after the fire.
President Nayib Bukele announced the rescue on October 21 and warned gangs of harsher action.
Bukele disproved four bodies claims by releasing photos of a child and other remains.

History

Historical Context

Operation Uphold Democracy in 1994, authorized by UN Security Council Resolution 940, sent roughly 20,000 U.S. troops to restore Haiti’s elected president Jean-Bertrand Aristide after the 1991 coup. The intervention set a precedent for regional forces; in October 2024 El Salvador dispatched about 450 special-forces soldiers to Haiti, echoing the earlier multinational effort to combat entrenched gangs.

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Story summary

El Salvador deployed about 450 special-forces troops to Haiti to rescue four missing soldiers.
Gangs ambushed their armored vehicle in Santo, Croix-des-Bouquets on October 18, causing it to catch fire.
The four technicians fled on foot but lost contact shortly after the fire.
President Nayib Bukele announced the rescue on October 21 and warned gangs of harsher action.
Bukele disproved four bodies claims by releasing photos of a child and other remains.

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