El Salvador military strikes criminal gang stronghold in Haiti

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador announced that his country's military forces, deployed in Haiti, successfully destroyed a major criminal gang's operational headquarters in Port-au-Prince. The operation, which involved airstrikes using helicopters and rockets, was documented in a 48-second video shared by Bukele on X. The mission received public support from the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader, amidst the ongoing security crisis in Haiti.

This strike marks the first major offensive since the deployment of over 2,000 Salvadoran troops to Haiti, supported by U.S. logistics. The official stated purpose of this deployment was to locate four Salvadoran helicopter mechanics who went missing following an ambush in the Haitian capital on October 18. While the primary mission involves search and recovery efforts for the missing engineers, the recent destruction of the gang stronghold signifies an active role in broader counter-gang operations.

International observers and local authorities are currently assessing the impact of the strike on the region’s stability. The security situation in the country remains critical, and the military presence is expected to continue as investigations and operations proceed.