Last week, U.S. Marines stationed at the American embassy in Haiti found themselves in an intense exchange of gunfire with individuals believed to be gang members, according to a Marine Corps spokesperson.

In a statement sent to Fox News Digital on Sunday, Capt. Steven J. Keenan detailed that the Marines engaged in security operations for the embassy were targeted by suspected gang members in Port-au-Prince on the night of November 13, responding with gunfire to the attack.

“The U.S. Marines are dedicated to safeguarding the security of U.S. embassies across the globe and address any threats with expertise and rapid, disciplined measures,” Keenan affirmed.

Thankfully, no Marines were injured during the incident, which was initially covered by The Washington Post over the weekend.

On July 5, 2024, Kenyan police were seen protecting the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, amidst disturbances caused by armed gangs in the vicinity. (Image credit: Guerinault Louis/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Neither the State Department nor the U.S. Embassy in Haiti immediately responded to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

The Caribbean nation has been plagued by gang violence, with armed groups reportedly controlling up to 90% of Port-au-Prince, according to the United Nations. The groups block access roads, attack infrastructure, and terrorize civilians through kidnappings, rapes and killings.

There has been no elected government in Haiti since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

The U.N. said a gang suppression force of 5,550 was set to begin operations in Haiti on Oct. 2, working alongside Haitian authorities to neutralize gangs, secure infrastructure and support humanitarian access.

Protesters in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, march on April 2, 2025. (Guerinault Louis/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The multinational mission, authorized by the U.N. Security Council, aims to “protect vulnerable populations from escalating violence and prevent the displacement that inevitably causes.”

It remains unclear which countries will contribute personnel, though the force will be funded primarily through voluntary contributions from U.N. member states.

The State Department has a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” warning for Haiti on its website due to the risks of kidnapping, crime, terrorist activity and civil unrest. 

It ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees and their family members to leave the country in July 2023 due to security risks. The country has been under a state of emergency since March 2024.

Protesters pass burning tires while marching to demand stronger government action on security in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on April 2, 2025. (Clarens Siffroy/AFP via Getty Images)