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Conflict · Ground fighting · Impact 3 Serious

El Salvador launches military operation in Haiti to retrieve four hostage UN force members

· ≈ Port-au-Prince, Haiti · confirmed by 5 outlets

President Nayib Bukele said Haitian gangs were holding four Salvadoran members of a UN-backed security force hostage. He said he had launched a military operation to bring them back unharmed.

Location
≈ Port-au-Prince, Haiti · Haiti live map
Coordinates
≈ 18.59°N 72.31°W
Reported
21 Oct 2026, 21:02 UTC
Category
Conflict · Ground fighting
Impact
3 of 5 · Serious
Situation
Haiti gang violence
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Haiti gang violence right now

▲ Escalating

El Salvador launches operation to free four UN force members held by Haitian gangs

On Wednesday President Nayib Bukele said Haitian gangs were holding four Salvadoran members of a UN-backed security force hostage, and that he had launched a military operation to bring them back unharmed. Earlier, on Tuesday, reports said dozens of people were killed near Port-au-Prince, including the mayor of Kenscoff, who had sent officials hundreds of letters warning of gang threats.

  • Bukele says the operation aims to return the four hostages unharmed.
  • The Kenscoff mayor died along with dozens of others after warning of a gang massacre.
Updated 22 Oct 2026, 12:30 UTC · Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.

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