Four Salvadoran soldiers serving with Haiti’s UN-backed Gang Suppression Force are missing following an attack by heavily armed criminal gangs near Port-au-Prince. The soldiers reportedly escaped their burning armoured vehicle, but contact was subsequently lost. Rescue attempts involving helicopters and ground forces have been obstructed by intense gunfire. The incident marks the first major attack on the international force since operations began almost six months ago. A representative of the force warned that hostile incidents had risen sharply and that gangs were carrying out reprisals against civilians. Criminal organisations control an estimated 70% of Haiti’s capital, while violence has killed more than 21,000 people over four years and displaced nearly 1.5 million. The deteriorating security situation threatens preparations for the country’s first general election in over a decade. International forces are seeking additional personnel to combat the gangs.