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U.S. Marines guarding the American embassy in Haiti exchanged gunfire with suspected gang members last week, a Marine spokesperson confirmed. Capt. Steven J. Keenan told Fox News in an emailed statement Sunday that Marines involved in embassy security operations came under fire from suspected gang members in Port-au-Prince on the evening of Nov. 13 and returned fire.
“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.
No service members were injured in the incident, which was first reported by The Washington Post. Neither the State Department nor the U.S. Embassy in Haiti immediately responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Haiti continues to face widespread gang violence, with armed groups exerting control over as much as 90% of Port-au-Prince, according to the United Nations. These groups have blocked major roads, attacked key infrastructure, and carried out kidnappings, sexual assaults, and killings that have destabilized daily life across the capital.
The country has had no elected government since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, deepening the political and security vacuum.
The United Nations said a multinational security mission of 5,550 personnel was expected to begin operations in Haiti on Oct. 2. The force is intended to work with Haitian authorities to counter gang activity, secure critical infrastructure, and support humanitarian operations.
The multinational security mission, authorized by the U.N. Security Council, is intended to “protect vulnerable populations from escalating violence and prevent the displacement that inevitably causes.” It remains unclear which countries will contribute personnel, though the operation is expected to be funded primarily through voluntary contributions from U.N. member states.
The U.S. State Department currently maintains a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti, citing risks of kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity and civil unrest.
The department ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave the country in July 2023 because of deteriorating security conditions. Haiti has remained under a state of emergency since March 2024.
Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced last week that the Pentagon is shifting to what he called a “wartime footing,” warning that the United States is prepared to respond swiftly if any adversaries “FAFO” — short for “f*ck around and find out.”
In a lengthy address outlining new defense priorities, Hegseth said his department is revamping procurement, testing, and weapons readiness to ensure the U.S. military can strike decisively if challenged, Mediate reported.
“We are not just buying something. We are solving life-and-death problems for our warfighters,” Hegseth said. “We’re not building for peacetime; we are pivoting the Pentagon and industrial base to a wartime footing — building for victory should our adversaries FAFO.”
The defense secretary said he has ordered the Department of War — formerly the Department of Defense — to deliver a comprehensive plan to streamline test and evaluation requirements.
“Testing early and often is essential at early stages of development, but testing for the sake of testing inhibits progress and delays delivery,” Hegseth said.
He added that new “portfolio scorecards” will measure how quickly weapons systems can be deployed to active units, emphasizing speed and combat readiness over bureaucratic reviews.
“We will shine a light on performance standards,” Hegseth said. “Our primary performance measure is how long it takes to put weapons in the hands of our men and women who use them if and when necessary.”
Hegseth said too many current systems are “not able to fight right now” because they are stuck in maintenance depots or awaiting repairs.
“Far too many systems are languishing in shipyards and waiting years for parts,” he said. “We will maximize the number of weapons systems that are available for conflict. The faster we can deliver modern weapons systems, the faster we can retire decades-old legacy systems.”
