Clashes reported between Salvadoran soldiers and gangs during rescue operation in Haiti

A contingent of Salvadoran soldiers deployed to Haiti to participate in the search for four compatriots allegedly kidnapped by armed gangs has reportedly engaged in its first clashes with criminal groups on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince, amidst growing tension in the neighboring country.

According to preliminary information, the confrontation took place in the Cul-de-Sac area, specifically in the plain of Croix-des-Bouquets.

Reports indicate that approximately 100 elite Salvadoran soldiers are participating in search and tracking operations in sectors such as Santo, Marassa, Shada, and Croix-des-Bouquets, which are considered areas with a strong presence of criminal organizations.

During the operations, the troops would be using armored vehicles and working in coordination with Haitian security forces, with the objective of locating the four Salvadoran citizens and confronting the resistance of the gangs that maintain control of different communities.

According to the versions released, intelligence agencies maintain the hypothesis that the four hostages are still alive, although so far there has been no official report regarding their location or possible progress in rescue operations.

Likewise, there are reports circulating about a video attributed to gang members, in which they display high-caliber weaponry and ammunition as an apparent show of force in response to the military deployment.

Hospitals under pressure due to clashes between soldiers and gangs

The clashes have also reportedly caused a critical situation in several hospitals in the affected areas, due to the admission of people wounded during the fighting.

According to reports, armed groups allegedly attempted to force medical personnel at centers located in Santo 22 and Sainte Camille to provide assistance to gang members, a situation that reportedly led to the reinforcement of security at those facilities.

These events are taking place amidst the severe security crisis that Haiti is going through, where criminal organizations keep thousands of citizens under threat and have caused the displacement of families who are abandoning their communities to protect their lives.