A Marine spokesman reported that U.S. Marines, assigned to protect the American embassy in Haiti, exchanged gunfire with suspected gang members last week.
In an emailed statement on Sunday, Capt. Steven J. Keenan informed Digital that on the evening of November 13, Marines supporting embassy security operations in the capital, Port-au-Prince, were fired upon by suspected gang members and returned fire.
Keenan conveyed a message of strong commitment, stating that the personnel “are committed to the safety and security of U.S. embassies worldwide and respond to all threats with professionalism and swift, disciplined action.”
No service members sustained injuries in the incident, which was initially reported over the weekend by Digital.
Neither the State Department nor the U.S. Embassy in Haiti provided an immediate response to Digital’s request for comment.
Haiti has been grappling with intense gang violence, with armed groups reportedly controlling up to 90% of Port-au-Prince, according to the United Nations. These groups block access roads, attack infrastructure, and terrorize civilians through acts such as kidnappings, rapes, and killings.
Haiti has been without an elected government since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
The UN announced that a Gang Suppression Force, comprising 5,550 members, was scheduled to begin operations in Haiti on October 2, working alongside Haitian authorities to neutralize gangs, secure infrastructure, and facilitate humanitarian access.
This multinational mission, officially sanctioned by the, aims to “protect vulnerable populations from escalating violence and prevent the displacement that inevitably causes.”
The specific countries contributing personnel remain unclear, though the force will be primarily funded through voluntary contributions from UN member states.
The State Department’s website includes a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” warning for Haiti due to identified risks of kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, and civil unrest.
Due to security risks, nonemergency U.S. government employees and their families were ordered to leave the country in July 2023. Haiti has been under a state of emergency since March 2024.