The U.S. evacuated nonessential personnel from the U.S. Embassy in Haiti overnight and brought in additional Marines for security, military leaders said Sunday.
The mission was carried out under the cover of darkness as 80% of the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince is controlled by criminal gangs in open rebellion against the government.
“This airlift of personnel into and out of the embassy is consistent with our standard practice for embassy security augmentation worldwide, and no Haitians were on board the military aircraft,” U.S. Southern Command told the Miami Herald in a statement.
The embassy remains open and operational. Early last week, the State Department advised all American citizens to leave Haiti as the gangs stepped up their attacks on government institutions and launched a massive jailbreak from the country’s largest prison.
International flights have been paused for several days as the gangs attacked the country’s main airport in Port-au-Prince. The airlift was conducted via helicopter from the U.S. embassy.
AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph
U.S. soldiers stand guard on the rooftop of the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
“At the request of the Department of State, the U.S. military conducted an operation to augment the security of the U.S. Embassy at Port-au-Prince, allow our Embassy mission operations to continue, and enable nonessential personnel to depart,” SouthCom told ABC News.
President Biden personally approved the mission, a source told the Herald.
Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry was abroad when the gangs launched their first attack on Feb. 29 and has been unable to return to the country. The Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, would not even let him land.
“Henry is not welcome in the Dominican Republic for safety reasons,” Dominican President Luis Abinader said.
With News Wire Services
