Haitian gangs target foreign troops in biggest attack since force began operations

Four Salvadoran aviation technicians were returning to camp Sunday when gangs attacked their armored vehicle with explosives and set it on fire. They escaped the burning vehicle, but authorities still cannot locate them. Helicopters sent to help also came under fire, while fighting blocked land and air approaches.

The attack matters because it is the first major assault since the international gang suppression force began operations. It shows that gangs are willing to confront foreign troops directly. Jack Christofides said attacks against the force have recently increased and that gangs are testing it.

The force says it is assessing the situation and told nearby residents to stay indoors. The attack could pressure the coalition to strengthen operations, while gangs may use captured or missing personnel to negotiate. The U.S. ambassador said the coalition would not retreat, but the force acknowledges it cannot be everywhere at once.

The international gang suppression force is a multinational security mission authorized by the U.N. Security Council in September 2025. It replaced an earlier Kenya-led multinational force that struggled with funding and resources. Its central purpose is to help Haiti confront gangs that control large areas and threaten civilians.

The force operates alongside Haiti’s National Police and international partners. Its troops conduct security operations, challenge gang influence, and help authorities regain control of affected communities. The force also responds to attacks, protects its personnel, and assesses threats across several regions.

More than 2,000 troops are currently on the ground, including personnel from Chad, Jamaica, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Its representative says it has produced early signs of reduced gang influence in some areas. However, increasing attacks and reprisal killings show that the mission faces serious limits and cannot operate everywhere at once.

The U.N. Security Council authorized a 5,550-member international gang suppression force in September 2025. That figure describes the mission’s approved size, not the number presently deployed. The force was created to replace a weaker Kenya-led mission and help Haiti confront entrenched gang violence.

The article reports that more than 2,000 troops are currently on the ground. They include soldiers from Chad, Jamaica, Guatemala, and other contributing countries. These troops operate with Haiti’s National Police and conduct missions in communities where gangs have expanded their control.

The difference between the authorized total and the deployed number matters because the force has limited coverage. Jack Christofides said, “we cannot be everywhere at once.” Gangs have pushed into Kenscoff and the Artibonite region, while attacks against international personnel have increased. The mission reports progress in some places, but its reach remains incomplete.

Gangs control an estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince and have expanded into places including Kenscoff and the Artibonite region. Their control persists because Haiti’s security forces and international troops face a wide, complex crisis. Jack Christofides said the force cannot be everywhere at once.

The attack in Croix-des-Bouquets shows the mechanism clearly. Several gangs operate there, including Chèn Méchan, Kraze Barye, and 400 Mawozo. They used explosives, heavy gunfire, and armed fighters against Salvadoran troops. Helicopters also came under fire, delaying rescue attempts.

The article also reports reprisal killings after operations by Haitian and international forces. Haiti’s deputy representative to the U.N. said the weapons and ammunition are not made in Haiti and continue entering the country. These outside supplies, combined with gang control and limited security coverage, make it difficult to restore authority quickly.

If attacks and reprisals continue, civilians could face more displacement, killings, injuries, and kidnappings. The U.N. already reports nearly 1.5 million displaced people, more than 5,700 people killed or injured from January to mid-September, and over 230 kidnappings. Those figures show the crisis is already enormous.

The article describes a clear pattern. Haitian and international operations can trigger gang reprisals in some areas. Gangs have also pushed into Kenscoff and the Artibonite region. After the latest attack, residents near the site were told to remain indoors because fighting made movement dangerous.

Haiti is preparing for its first general election in more than a decade. Continued violence could make campaigning, travel, and public participation harder, especially where gangs control territory. The article does not state how election plans will change, but the expanding violence and security gaps create a serious challenge for preparations.

The U.N. Security Council authorized the new 5,550-member gang suppression force in September 2025. It replaced a former Kenya-led multinational force that struggled to help Haiti’s National Police contain gang violence. The change reflected the earlier mission’s inability to operate effectively with its available support.

The article identifies two main problems: insufficient funds and inadequate resources. Those limits weakened the Kenya-led mission as it tried to assist Haiti’s police. The new force was designed as a broader international effort, with troops from several countries and a mandate focused on suppressing gangs.

The replacement has produced early signs of reduced gang influence in some areas, according to its special representative. Yet more than 2,000 troops are currently deployed, below the authorized total. Recent attacks, including the assault on Salvadoran personnel, show that the new mission still faces many of the difficulties that made Haiti’s security crisis hard to contain.

Haiti’s security crisis is international because the violence involves foreign weapons, international troops, and U.N. action. Haiti’s deputy representative to the U.N. said the weapons and ammunition used by gangs are not made in Haiti and continue to enter the country. That gives the crisis a cross-border dimension.

The international response is equally clear. The U.N. Security Council authorized a multinational force, and troops from countries including El Salvador, Chad, Jamaica, and Guatemala are operating in Haiti. These soldiers work with Haiti’s National Police to suppress gangs and reduce their control.

The latest attack shows how connected the crisis has become. Gangs targeted Salvadoran personnel, helicopters came under fire, and the issue was discussed at the U.N. Security Council. The article does not identify the weapons’ countries of origin or explain their routes. It does show that Haiti cannot address the security threat through domestic efforts alone.