El Salvador deploys 100 special forces to Haiti to search for 4 missing soldiers

Summary

El Salvador has deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti to help recover four of its soldiers who went missing after gangs attacked them, two officials told The Associated Press. The special forces arrived on Thursday, a day after President Nayib Bukele announced a military operation to rescue the four aviation technicians and issued an ultimatum directly to Haitian gang leaders in Creole. Bukele said the government has a single objective: to bring the four compatriots back home. The New York Times reports that the four missing soldiers have put Haiti's new Gang Suppression Force, which already had a rocky start, into its first crisis.

Timeline

1. ABC News

   22 Oct 2026, 22:32 UTCSource ↗

   ABC News reports, citing two officials who spoke to The Associated Press, that El Salvador has deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti to help recover four missing soldiers who recently came under attack by gangs.

2. South China Morning Post

   23 Oct 2026, 03:44 UTCSource ↗

   The South China Morning Post reports that El Salvador deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti on Thursday to help rescue four missing soldiers, a day after Nayib Bukele announced the operation with an ultimatum to Haitian gang leaders in Creole.

3. The New York Times

   23 Oct 2026, 12:44 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that with four Salvadoran soldiers missing, Haiti's new Gang Suppression Force, already off to a rocky start, is facing its first crisis.