Salvadoran helicopters arrive in Santo Domingo as Haiti operation expands

Santo Domingo.- Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said Thursday that his country’s operation in Haiti to locate four Salvadoran military personnel missing after a gang ambush is not an invasion, stressing that El Salvador has no interest in dominating the Haitian people or controlling the country’s resources.

In a post on X, Bukele said the deployment of Salvadoran troops and equipment to Haiti is “almost” complete. He emphasized that the mission is focused on finding the missing personnel and is not directed against the Haitian population.

“We are not a great power. We have no interest in coming to dominate the Haitian people, nor in laying hands on Haiti’s riches,” Bukele said.

As part of the logistical support provided by the Dominican Republic, a Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft operated by National Airlines arrived at Las Américas International Airport early Wednesday after departing from El Salvador. The equipment is expected to be transported onward to Haiti.

Reports have indicated that the shipment included five Salvadoran Air Force MD500 and MD530 helicopters. The aircraft, identified as flight NCR880, reportedly departed San Salvador on Tuesday and landed in Santo Domingo at 12:11 a.m. Wednesday.

However, Dominican and Salvadoran authorities have not officially confirmed the type of equipment transported or whether the helicopters will ultimately be deployed in Haiti. Their specific role in the Salvadoran operation also remains unclear.

The deployment underscores cooperation between El Salvador and the Dominican Republic as both countries respond to Haiti’s worsening security crisis and efforts to recover the missing Salvadoran personnel.