El Salvador pledged more than 2,000 troops to Haiti to find missing technicians
El Salvador’s foreign ministry said Wednesday it would deploy more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti to search for four missing Salvadoran air force technicians and support anti-gang operations. The technicians, members of the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force, disappeared Oct. 18 after an ambush in Croix-des-Bouquets, east of Port-au-Prince. Reuters said it was unclear whether the troops would join the force.
More context
The foreign ministry said Wednesday that El Salvador would send a contingent of more than 2,000 troops to Haiti, with orders to locate four missing air force technicians and assist in countering armed gangs. The technicians were serving with the Gang Suppression Force, a UN-backed multinational mission supporting Haitian police. They disappeared on Oct. 18 after armed men ambushed their vehicle in Croix-des-Bouquets, east of Port-au-Prince, Al Jazeera reported. Around Prague, citing the BBC, said they were returning to their base in an armored vehicle when attacked. The BBC reported that about 450 Salvadoran soldiers had already arrived in the capital to reinforce the force and join search operations. Reuters said officials had not clarified whether the new troops would join the UN-backed mission or operate separately.
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Reporting
- BBC News — El Salvador sends 2,000 troops to Haiti to rescue four missing soldiers
- Al Jazeera — El Salvador pledges more than 2,000 soldiers as Haiti delays elections | Conflict News | Al Jazeera
- Around Prague — El Salvador Sends More Than 2,000 Troops to Haiti to Find Four Missing Airmen
- Facebook — 🇸🇻🇭🇹 El Salvador to deploy over 2000 soldiers to Haiti ...
- inquirer.net — El Salvador sends more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti
- charlotteobserver.com (with Reuters) — El Salvador to send over 2,000 soldiers to Haiti for rescue while elections postponed | Charlotte Observer
Verifier’s note
BBC News, Al Jazeera, Inquirer, the Charlotte Observer, Around Prague, and Anadolu all report El Salvador’s deployment or planned deployment of more than 2,000 troops to search for four soldiers missing after an ambush. The reports describe a pledge or planned deployment, with about 450 troops reported to have arrived, so “sent 2,000” may overstate how many were already there.