U.S. Marines stationed at the American Embassy in Port-au-Prince were involved in a brief but intense exchange of gunfire with suspected gang members on November 13, highlighting the escalating risks faced by diplomatic personnel in Haiti’s increasingly volatile capital.
According to Capt. Steven J. Keenan, spokesperson for the U.S. Marine Corps, the Marines were “supporting embassy security operations” when they came under fire from unidentified armed individuals near the facility. The service members responded immediately, following strict security protocols designed to protect U.S. diplomatic sites.
“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 said in a statement.
No U.S. personnel were injured during the incident. Officials have not released additional details regarding the duration of the shootout, the number of attackers, or whether any of the suspected gunmen were killed or captured.
This latest confrontation marks the most serious encounter at the embassy this year. Marines have previously faced sporadic gunfire from nearby armed groups, but embassy officials say the November 13 shootout reflects the growing reach and aggression of gangs operating around the capital. Violence has surged to historic levels, with armed groups now controlling large portions of Port-au-Prince and its surrounding districts.
As of Saturday, November 15, embassy personnel remained under shelter-in-place orders, and the immediate area around the compound resembled an active conflict zone due to ongoing clashes between Haitian security forces and heavily armed gangs.
The incident unfolded amid a series of intensified anti-gang operations conducted last week by the Haitian National Police (PNH), the Armed Forces of Haiti (FAd’H), and the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission. Targeting strongholds of gangs such as 400 Mawozo and Chen Mechan in areas including Croix-des-Bouquets and Lilavois, security forces reported killing seven gang members. During one of the operations, a helicopter was destroyed after making an emergency landing while under heavy gunfire.
The confrontation near the U.S. Embassy underscores the increasingly precarious security situation in Haiti, where foreign missions, civilians, and national institutions continue to face daily threats from entrenched and expanding armed groups.
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