El Salvador launches operation to rescue soldiers abducted by Haitian gangs

El Salvador's president has announced a military operation aimed at rescuing four members of the country's air force who have been missing in Haiti since Sunday, according to BBC World.

The four men, part of the United Nations-backed Gang Suppression Force (GSF), were ambushed by heavily armed criminal groups in Croix-des-Bouquets, an area controlled by gangs, the Salvadoran armed forces said.

President Nayib Bukele stated the personnel were not combatants but were on a mission to carry out medical evacuations and save lives. He warned that a stronger response would follow if the hostages were not returned alive and unharmed, as reported by Al Jazeera English.

The Salvadoran military said the group was attacked while returning from buying food, with their armored vehicle hit by explosives and catching fire. Helicopters were deployed to assist during the incident, according to BBC World.

Haiti's government has declared the release of the abducted soldiers a priority and held a meeting to assess ongoing interventions and strengthen operations in collaboration with the Gang Repression Force, Al Jazeera English reported.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred amid ongoing efforts by the UN-backed Gang Suppression Force to combat gang violence in Haiti. Residents in the area have been warned to stay indoors as the situation develops.