El Salvador's president threatens Haitian gangs over military hostages

Key Points:

• El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele has launched a military operation to rescue four air force personnel kidnapped in Haiti after being ambushed by heavily armed criminal groups in Croix-des-Bouquets.
• The missing personnel were part of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), a UN-approved mission aimed at combating gang violence in Haiti, and were reportedly on a medical evacuation mission, not engaged in combat.
• The Salvadoran military stated the group was attacked while returning from buying food, with their armored vehicle hit by explosives and catching fire, and rescue attempts have been hindered by ongoing fighting and security challenges.
• Bukele warned of escalating consequences if the hostages are not returned alive, emphasizing the operation's sole objective is their safe return, and noted that the situation would normalize if they are unharmed.
• Haiti continues to face severe instability, with postponed elections, ongoing political turmoil, economic chaos, and increasing gang violence exacerbated by a power vacuum following the 2021 assassination of its president.