El Salvador’s Security Surge: Exposing the Reality Behind Bukele’s Anti-Gang Crackdown

In a bold and highly militarized move, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has deployed 1,500 soldiers alongside 500 police officers to the central municipality of Apopa. This operation aims to dismantle gang elements—known locally as 'maras'—attempting to reorganize after being weakened by a rigorous regime of exception. Bukele publicly confirmed on social media that intelligence reports and community denunciations pinpointed attempts by gang members in San Bartolo, Ilopango, to reestablish their presence. His response was swift: an extensive security cordon launched at dawn to “extract every last terrorist” hiding in those neighborhoods. This aggressive strategy reflects El Salvador’s ongoing war...