US Marines Engaged in Firefight With Bandits in Haiti

U.S. Marines guarding the embassy in Haiti this week engaged in a firefight with suspected members of local gangs.

According to Bloomberg, the incident occurred on the evening of November 14 in the capital of the country, Port-au-Prince. This was reported by the representatives of the US military on Saturday.

According to Captain Stephen Keenan, the Marines, who provide security for the diplomatic mission, came under fire and promptly retaliated. None of the US military was injured. This is not the first shooting at U.S. personnel in Haiti this year, but, according to Keenan, the most serious.

The incident occurred amid a general deterioration in the security situation in the country. In 2023, the Pentagon stepped up security at the US Embassy in Haiti due to the increase in violence by armed groups. The country has been in a political crisis since 2021, when President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated.

Haiti is currently governed by a transitional presidential council that took power last year. It is trying to stabilize the situation, but without much success. According to the UN, about 85% of the capital’s territory is controlled by armed gangs.

In August, the US Embassy announced the arrival of a new contingent of Marines to protect the diplomatic mission and rotate the previous staff. This allowed for continued support of the local police and the international security mission.

This year, there have already been cases of shooting near the diplomatic zone. In 2023, the State Department evacuated non-key personnel from Haiti.