El Salvador sends forces to Haiti for missing soldiers

El Salvador has deployed special forces to Haiti after four Salvadoran soldiers serving in a UN-backed force went missing following a gang ambush, officials said.

The Gang Suppression Force said a Salvadoran contingent arrived on Thursday to support search and security operations in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac area outside Port-au-Prince. It said operations were continuing with the Haitian National Police and other partners, and urged local residents to stay away.

US envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the four Salvadoran soldiers went missing after their armoured vehicle was ambushed by gangs on Sunday as they returned to base from a market outside Port-au-Prince. Waltz said the attackers fired hundreds of bullets and used explosives against the vehicle, and that officials believed the four soldiers had survived.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said on Wednesday that the missing soldiers were aviation technicians whose main job was to carry out medical evacuations and save lives. He demanded their release and warned gang leaders against harming them.

Haiti has faced worsening gang violence, including killings, kidnappings, rape and child recruitment. Haitian authorities earlier this month indefinitely postponed elections that had been due in December.

The Gang Suppression Force is being deployed to support Haiti's overwhelmed police. The mission is intended to reach 5,500 personnel, but currently has about 2,000 members from six contributing countries.