Marines Engage in Several Firefights Defending U.S. Embassy in Haiti

The Marines once again proved why they are the backbone of American resolve overseas.

According to Col. Tom “Banshee” Trimble, commanding officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), U.S. Marines deployed to Haiti were repeatedly engaged in firefights while defending the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince from violent gangs that have turned the capital city into a warzone.

Trimble told reporters that the Marines were fired upon multiple times and returned fire “on several occasions” during their 10-month deployment.

“There were multiple engagements at the embassy in Haiti, in which we received and returned fire,” he stated, making it very clear that the Marines didn’t back down for a second.

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From August to December 2025, the 22nd MEU was positioned in Haiti to secure the embassy as gangs overran nearly 90 percent of the capital.

Port-au-Prince is now in the grip of organized crime and chaos, but American Marines stood their ground under pressure, protecting U.S. diplomats and personnel in one of the most volatile environments in the Western Hemisphere.

Trimble emphasized that while the engagements were intense, no Marines were injured or killed — a testament, he said, to their training, discipline, and clear understanding of the rules of engagement.

Image Credit: DoW

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“The Marines went unscathed because we went in there, we reinforced positions, and we were well trained to understand what the ROE was,” Trimble explained.

A Marine Corps spokesperson confirmed reports in November that the Marines exchanged fire with “suspected gang members” as part of their embassy security operation.

These weren’t isolated incidents but part of what Trimble called a “consistent basis” of attacks throughout the deployment.

Image Credit: DoW

Yet, despite the hail of gunfire, the Marines remained disciplined — returning fire only when appropriate and in strict accordance with the rules of engagement.

Trimble described the troops’ conduct as “by the book,” stating, “When we received these engagements, we had a clear depiction of what the rules of engagement were.

We followed the ROE to a T and did exactly what the Department of State wanted us to do in order to defend the embassy in Haiti.”

It remains unclear whether any of the attackers were killed in these shootouts.

When pressed, Trimble responded: “I cannot disclose that, but unknown.” That’s a polite Marine way of saying: we held the line, and the bad guys learned a hard lesson in what happens when you shoot at Americans.

After months of tension and sporadic combat, the 22nd MEU rotated out and was replaced by a Fleet-Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST Company) — another elite group trained specifically for high-threat embassy protection.

The mission continues to ensure that U.S. personnel remain safe in a region that has slipped deeper into lawlessness under weak leadership and decades of corruption.

Image Credit: DoW

During the rest of the 22nd MEU’s deployment, the Marines supported other bold missions — including operations related to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and high-level exercises around the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.

Say what you will about global instability — America still sends in the best when the job needs to get done.

Regarding awards for combat action, Trimble confirmed that recognition for the Haiti engagement is under review.

“The award process was still being worked out, but anything that was in accordance with the awards pub or the manuals, we did put the brief up for those awards,” he said. Those awards are well deserved — these Marines didn’t just stand guard, they stood in the fight.

The Haiti firefights throw a sharp light on the chaos brewing in the Caribbean, where gangs have eclipsed the government in control and influence.

The U.S. embassy has become one of the few bastions of order. It also highlights the increasing need for strong, well-trained forces capable of acting decisively under pressure — something this administration should prioritize rather than cut funding to.

Image Credit: DoW

While much of the mainstream press yawns its way through the story, this is one of those moments that show the price of maintaining American presence and credibility abroad. The men and women of the Marine Corps aren’t idle observers.

They’re on the front line, holding the line, no matter where the world unravels next.

President Trump has been clear about his intention to restore strength and accountability to every corner of the War Department.

If anything, what these Marines did in Haiti serves as a textbook case in combat readiness and leadership — exactly the kind of discipline and grit War Secretary Pete Hegseth has been pushing for across all branches.

As Trimble put it plainly, “We were ready, we were professional, and we did the mission.” That statement sums it up perfectly — American Marines doing what they’ve always done best: defend, fight, and win.

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