Marines guarding the U.S. embassy in Haiti traded gunfire with “suspected” Haitian gang members this week, the Marine Corps said on Saturday,
The shootout, first reported by the Washington Post, happened on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 13. Marines who were “supporting embassy security operations were fired upon by suspected gang members in Port-au-Prince,” Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Steven Keenan said in a statement to Task & Purpose. The Marines then returned fire. No Marines were injured.
The Marine Corps did not provide any details on what led to the shootout, how long it lasted or if any of the Haitians who attacked were wounded or killed.
“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,” Keenan added.
The Marine Corps directed questions for additional information to the State Department, which did not immediately respond to queries from Task & Purpose. The gunfight outside the American embassy happened during ongoing clashes in the capital city, as police fought Haitian gang members in Port-au-Prince’s outlying neighborhoods.
Posted by John3262005