In light of the ongoing attacks by heavily armed gangs on Haiti’s fragile government and the transformation of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, into a war zone, the United States military has dispatched Marines to Haiti to bolster its embassy and evacuate non-essential personnel.
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Based in Doral, the United States Southern Command confirmed that the security operation, conducted in the middle of the night, was carried out by the U.S. military via helicopter at the State Department’s request.
Residents of the nation’s capital reported hearing the sounds of a helicopter and an airplane flying overhead early Sunday morning before the operation.
A National Security Council official told McClatchy that President Biden personally ordered the military to carry out the mission. The official added that Biden is deeply concerned about the situation in Haiti and is regularly briefed by his staff.
The airlift was conducted amidst ongoing gang attacks in various locations around the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, including Tabarre, where the U.S. Embassy is located.
Armed gangs, which reportedly control over 80 percent of the capital, have been targeting key government institutions and have robbed businesses in the area. Since last Thursday, the gangs have been engaged in a concerted attack.
Demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry and targeting important institutions within the Haitian government.
They have also taken control of the main port and orchestrated a mass jailbreak, releasing thousands of prisoners, including prominent gang leaders.
The gangs have also attacked both the domestic and international airports with heavy gunfire, leading to the suspension of international flights into the country. Henry is currently in Puerto Rico and unable to return to Haiti due to the ongoing violence. The United States and the Caribbean Community are pressuring Henry to step down from his position.
Haiti has recently declared a state of emergency and a month-long curfew in response to the attacks. Elements of the country’s budding army have been deployed to assist the Haiti National Police.
The U.S. government has provided the police with additional ammunition to help them combat gang operations. As a result of the escalating violence, the U.S. Embassy has reduced its operations.
Despite the increased gang violence in the area, the U.S. Embassy remains operational. The State Department’s decision to arrange for the departure of additional embassy staff was made due to the heightened gang violence in the neighborhood near the embassy compounds and the airport. Every traveler, whether arriving or departing, is employed by the U.S. government.
Earlier, President Biden said he would not send American troops to intervene directly in the conflict. However, in October, following a year-long campaign by the U.S., the United Nations approved a multinational security Support mission. This operation would bring together reinforcements from around the world to support Haiti’s police force.
As the violence worsens, the deployment of the force has been hampered by a lack of funding. While the international community has been slow to contribute to a U.N. trust fund to finance the operation, Republican members in Congress are refusing to release a hold on funding requested by the Biden administration, citing concerns about the mission.
According to Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols, the administration remains committed to accelerating the deployment of the Kenyan-led mission. He also stressed the urgency of the funding situation, stating,
Every day matters, every day, the lives and welfare of ordinary Haitians. If you care about humanitarian issues around the world, there is no crisis that is worse than the situation in Haiti right now.
Brian Nichols
Despite the evacuations, the embassy remains focused on advancing U.S. government efforts to support the Haitian people. Including mobilizing support for the police, accelerating the deployment of the security mission, and supporting a peaceful transition of power through free and fair elections. The Southern Command stated that the Department of Defense is prepared to provide robust support for the MSS, including assistance with planning, information sharing, airlift, communications, and medical support.
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