Explosives struck an international force’s vehicle; search under way for four soldiers missing after gang attack in Haiti

Soldiers remain out of contact

The four Salvadoran soldiers went missing after their armoured vehicle was hit by explosives during a gang attack on Sunday. International forces are working to establish contact with them.

El Salvador said efforts to approach the area from the ground and the air had been attempted several times. The statement said intense fighting had prevented those efforts from succeeding.

First major attack on force

The attack is the first major assault on the international force since it started operating in Haiti earlier this year. More than 1,500 troops are currently deployed in the country.

The force includes soldiers from Chad, Jamaica and Guatemala. The article does not identify the nationalities of the other troops.

Security Council to discuss Haiti

The UN Security Council is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss Haiti, with the assault expected to be a central topic. The attack was also described as an attack on UN-backed forces.

The vehicle was struck in an area controlled by gangs, including Kraze Barye and 400 Mawozo. Their leaders, Vitelhomme Innocent and Lanmo Sanjou, respectively, have been sanctioned by the UN and the United States.

Haiti’s wider crisis

Haiti has faced extreme violence, political deadlock and severe humanitarian conditions since President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in July 2021. The attack comes amid that ongoing crisis. The article says the assault is expected to dominate the Security Council’s discussions. It does not give further details about the missing soldiers or the circumstances of their disappearance.