El Salvador sends 100 elite troops to Haiti to rescue abducted military personnel

El Salvador has sent 100 elite troops to Haiti following the abduction of four Salvadoran military aviation technicians by local criminal groups, according to officials who spoke to the Associated Press.

The deployment landed on Thursday, closely trailing a public announcement from Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele regarding a focused military mission aimed at securing the release of the captured personnel. Bukele delivered a stern warning to Haitian armed groups, writing a message in Creole on the social media platform X.

In his online post, Bukele emphasized that his government was driven by a single purpose to retrieve the four service members safely. He highlighted his administration's domestic crackdown on organized crime, cautioning gang members in Haiti that Salvadoran forces could dismantle their operations just as they had subdued powerful gangs within El Salvador.

The four Salvadoran captives were working as part of an international security mission endorsed by the United Nations to assist Haitian authorities in containing rampant gang activity. According to details shared by Bukele, the aviation specialists were attacked and taken captive on Sunday after leaving their base to purchase groceries.

The dispatch of specialized commandos underscores the deepening international stakes in Haiti, where powerful armed factions continue to hold control over broad areas of the capital and surrounding regions. International forces operating in the country have faced persistent operational challenges and direct violence as they attempt to stabilize the Caribbean nation.

The Salvadoran government has not publicly disclosed the exact tactical plans or timeline of the ongoing operation, but officials confirmed that the newly arrived commandos are prioritizing the search and recovery of the missing personnel.