U.S. Marines Exchange Fire with Suspected Gang Members in Haiti

Suspected gang members fired on U.S. Marines guarding the American embassy in Port-au-Prince on Nov. 13, Marine Corps spokesperson Capt. Steven Keenan reported.

Keenan said the Marines returned fire but were unharmed. He did not reveal what sparked the attack or whether any attackers were hit. “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.

According to reports, the gunfire occurred amid ongoing clashes in Port-au-Prince, where police were confronting Haitian gang members in the city’s outskirts.

The U.S. maintains an embassy in Haiti, but the State Department has repeatedly warned Americans against travel due to kidnappings, crime, terrorism, and civil unrest.

Gang violence in Haiti has surged since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, with armed groups now controlling roughly 90% of Port-au-Prince, according to U.N. In 2024, the fighting killed over 5,500 people and displaced nearly 1.3 million.

In late September, the UN Security Council (UNSC) approved the deployment of a 5,500-strong Gang Suppression Force (GSF) to Haiti to combat heavily armed criminal groups.