U.S. Marines assigned to protect the American embassy in Haiti exchanged gunfire with suspected gang members on Nov. 13, a Marine spokesman confirmed Sunday.
According to Fox News, Capt. Steven J. Keenan said during an interview with the outlet that Marines supporting embassy security operations were fired upon in Port-au-Prince and returned fire.
“U.S. Marines are committed to the safety and security of U.S. embassies worldwide and respond to all threats with professionalism and swift, disciplined action,” he said.
No service members were injured in the incident. The Washington Post first reported the clash over the weekend, though neither the State Department nor the U.S. Embassy in Haiti immediately commented.
Haiti has struggled with rampant gang violence for years. According to the United Nations, armed groups control as much as 90% of Port-au-Prince, obstructing roads, attacking infrastructure, and terrorizing civilians through kidnappings, rapes, and killings.
The nation has not had an elected government since President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated in 2021.
In response to the security crisis, the U.N. planned a multinational gang suppression force of 5,550 personnel to begin operations on Oct. 2.
The mission, authorized by the U.N. Security Council, is designed to support Haitian authorities in neutralizing gangs, securing infrastructure, and providing humanitarian access.
A primary goal is to “protect vulnerable populations from escalating violence and prevent the displacement that inevitably causes,” the U.N. said.
It remains unclear which countries will contribute troops, though the operation will be funded largely by voluntary contributions from U.N. member states.
The U.S. government has long warned about the dangers in Haiti, issuing a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory on its website due to kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity, and civil unrest.
In July 2023, the State Department ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees and their families to leave the country. Haiti has also been under a state of emergency since March 2024.
The exchange of gunfire highlights the ongoing dangers U.S. personnel face in the Caribbean nation, even as international forces attempt to restore some semblance of order.
