Brief

Bukele orders military operation to free four Salvadoran hostages in Haiti

Bukele said the operation targets only medical‑evacuation staff and warned gangs of harsher action if the hostages are not freed alive.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 22 Oct 2026 08:54:59 GMT

President Nayib Bukele announced Wednesday that he had launched a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran personnel kidnapped by gangs in Haiti, according to both the Independent and Al Jazeera.

What happened

The four men were travelling in an armored vehicle that was attacked by gunmen in the Santo area of Croix‑des‑Bouquets, Port‑au‑Prince, on Sunday. The vehicle caught fire and the occupants fled; they have been missing since that incident.

What the reports add

The Independent reported that the victims are aviation technicians attached to a United Nations‑backed gang‑suppression force, while Al Jazeera described them as soldiers. Both outlets note that the attack was the first major assault on foreign personnel since the international gang‑suppression force began operating in Haiti last year.

What was said

Bukele told Haitian gang leaders on X that the hostages must be returned “alive, unharmed,” and warned, “Do not take our words as empty threats.” The Independent quoted him as saying, “Today’s attack is nothing compared to what is coming if they do not release the four hostages alive.” Al Jazeera recorded a similar statement: “We have already finished with the gangs in El Salvador, and we can finish with you too.”

How it came about

The kidnapping follows a gang attack on an armored convoy on Sunday, the first such incident since the UN Security Council extended the Haiti gang‑suppression force mandate in September. Felo previously covered the disappearance of the four Salvadoran personnel on 19 October in an article titled “Four Salvadoran soldiers go missing after gang attack on armored vehicle in Haiti.”

Key facts

President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation to rescue four Salvadoran personnel kidnapped in Haiti. (independent.co.uk)
The hostages were in an armored vehicle attacked in the Santo area of Croix‑des‑Bouquets, Port‑au‑Prince. (aljazeera.com)
Bukele warned gangs that a stronger response would follow if the hostages are not released alive. (independent.co.uk)