El Salvador sent special forces to Haiti to rescue four kidnapped soldiers

El Salvador sent 100 special forces troops to Haiti to rescue four soldiers kidnapped after a gang attack. President Nayib Bukele warned that the gangs would face a harsher response unless the soldiers were released "alive and unharmed."

El Salvador sent 100 special forces troops to Haiti on Thursday to rescue four soldiers who went missing in the country. A Salvadoran official said another 100 soldiers would be sent during the night. Officials are operating on the assumption that the four soldiers are still alive.

The soldiers arrived in Haiti one day after President Nayib Bukele announced that he had launched a military operation for four aviation technicians. Bukele warned that the gangs would face a harsher response unless the soldiers were released "alive and unharmed."

Haiti National Police graduation ceremony

The attack took place Sunday in Croix-des-Bouquets, near the capital, Port-au-Prince. The armored vehicle carrying soldiers supporting the international gang-suppression force came under fire from gangs using explosives. The Haitian government announced Wednesday evening that four soldiers had been kidnapped. The attack was the first major assault since the gang-suppression force, which replaced the Kenya-led mission, began operations.

At least seven gang members were killed and four members of the force were wounded in the clashes in the area, the gang-suppression force said. The Chèn Méchan, Kraze Barye and 400 Mawozo gangs operate in the area. Kraze Barye leader Vitel'homme Innocent and 400 Mawozo leader Lanmo Sanjou are under United Nations and U.S. sanctions. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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