Bukele launches military operation to rescue four hostages held by Haiti gangs

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele said on Wednesday he had launched a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran aviation technicians kidnapped in Haiti, warning of a more forceful response unless they are released alive and unharmed, Reuters reported.

“Today, we have launched a military operation to rescue them,” Bukele said, giving no further details, Reuters reported.

It comes three days after gangs ambushed the men’s armoured vehicle in the Santo area of Croix-des-Bouquets, on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. Returning from a market to their base, the four leapt from the burning vehicle and went missing — the first major attack on foreign personnel since the force began operations, the Associated Press reported.

Bukele said the men are aviation technicians, not combatants: “Our mission consists only of pilots and technical personnel, whose primary job is to carry out medical evacuations and save lives, not to wage war,” he said in a post on X.

He told the gang leaders to return the men “alive, unharmed”, warning: “Today’s attack is nothing compared to what is coming if they do not release the four hostages alive. And do not take our words as empty threats.” It was not immediately clear whether further action would involve Salvadoran, Haitian or international forces, the AP reported.

Haiti’s government called the abduction an “absolute priority” on Wednesday evening, saying the prime minister’s office had met to assess ongoing interventions, Times Now reported.

Sources:

• Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/el-salvador-says-haiti-gangs-holding-4-force-members-hostage-announces-new-2026-10-21/
• AP via Jamaica Gleaner: https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/world-news/20261021/el-salvadors-bukele-announces-military-operation-rescue-hostages-held
• Times Now: https://www.timesnownews.com/world/el-salvador-launches-military-operation-in-haiti-to-rescue-4-kidnapped-workers-bukele-warns-gangs-article-156381608/amp