El Salvador has deployed more than 2,000 soldiers to Haiti to recover four military personnel who went missing in an ambush near Port-au-Prince.
The troops are part of a mission to retrieve four El Salvadoran air force technicians who disappeared nearly two weeks ago while working with a UN-backed anti-gang organisation in Haiti. The operation was announced by El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, who said the soldiers would also assist in ongoing security efforts against gangs in the country.
Haiti handed over four bodies to special forces earlier this week, but Bukele said they did not match the missing soldiers. One of the corpses was identified as a child, and another was wearing a military uniform from a different country. The multinational Gang Suppression Force has struggled to operate in areas controlled by armed groups, which have been linked to rising gang violence in Haiti.
Why it matters
The deployment highlights the growing involvement of El Salvador in Haiti's security challenges and the risks faced by international peacekeeping forces.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
The outcome of the operation and whether the missing soldiers are recovered will be a key indicator of the mission's success.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.