Four Salvadoran military personnel serving with Haiti’s international security force were still missing in reports published on Tuesday, after an ambush near Port-au-Prince on Sunday, 18 October.
The four aviation technicians escaped a vehicle set ablaze during the attack in Santo, Croix-des-Bouquets, but contact was lost, according to the Salvadoran military’s account reported by Reuters.
Search efforts have faced armed resistance. Reuters reported that helicopters sent to assist also came under fire, while attempts to reach the area were hampered by fighting.
In a report published on 20 October, The Washington Post quoted Gang Suppression Force spokesperson Igor Rugwiza saying searches continued with helicopter support. His stated priority was the personnel’s safe return.
No verified announcement that the four had been located was found in the sources checked for this draft. Their status should therefore be understood as last reported missing on Tuesday, rather than independently confirmed this morning.
The multinational force includes Jamaican personnel alongside contingents from other countries. The four missing men identified in these reports are Salvadoran.
The incident highlights the danger facing both security personnel and residents as armed groups contest control around Haiti’s capital. Further reporting will require confirmation from the force or Salvadoran authorities.
