El Salvador Deploys Rifle-Mounted Robot Dogs in Haiti Stadium Operation

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said this week that Salvadoran special forces took part in a joint operation that seized control of Sylvio Cator Stadium in Haiti's capital, Port-au-Prince, from armed gangs, with video released by his office showing four-legged robots carrying rifles.

According to Bukele, the operation was carried out under a bilateral agreement between the Haitian and Salvadoran governments and involved Haiti's National Police, the Haitian Armed Forces, a designated task force and Salvadoran special forces. He described the stadium as successfully secured and said an operational base will now be established there to support further advances into gang-held areas.

The released footage shows the robotic units moving through a corridor and climbing a staircase with a rifle mounted on top. It was not immediately clear how the machines contributed to the operation, and no technical details about their role were provided.

Bukele said several human skulls were discovered inside the stadium during the sweep, without giving further detail. He also issued a warning to gang members in the area, saying those who remain and confront the security forces will face consequences, and asserted that his side now holds the advantage on the ground.

Suppressing criminal gangs has been a central focus of Bukele's presidency since he took office in 2019, and his government has frequently publicised military and police operations. The reported deployment of armed robotic units abroad marks an unusual development in the security cooperation between the two countries.

Haiti has for years struggled with powerful gangs that control large parts of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, prompting international efforts to support local law enforcement. Details of the arrangement between San Salvador and Port-au-Prince, including its scope and duration, have not been fully disclosed.