The president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, has held a telephone conversation with the prime minister of Haiti, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, to articulate the broad security offensive launched with the objective of locating and freeing the four Salvadoran soldiers missing after a gang ambush in Haitian territory.
During the communication, both leaders have ratified their willingness to deepen bilateral cooperation and operational coordination within the framework of the Gang Suppression Force (GSF), as both administrations have detailed in separate official statements. Bukele has underscored the firmness of the ongoing deployment and has expressed his gratitude for the support of the local population and of the Haitian security authorities.
The Salvadoran Government maintains more than 2,000 soldiers in the area "in a large-scale operation supported by various countries and international organizations". The personnel are searching the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac area and the surroundings of Santo -- in the metropolitan region of Croix-des-Bouquets-- in search of the four air technicians, specialized in medical evacuations within the international mission, who were intercepted last weekend when they were traveling in a convoy.
The Haitian Executive, for its part, has reiterated its solidarity with the families of the Salvadoran soldiers and has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with international partners, under respect for national sovereignty, to restore order in the country.
The kidnapping took place in a context of growing tension, following an attack that left four international personnel wounded and several alleged gang members dead, which led to a prior ultimatum from Bukele, in which he warned the armed gangs that he would launch a total offensive if they did not release the hostages alive.