PORT-AU-PRINCE — Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele stated on Saturday, October 24, that human remains retrieved in Haiti do not belong to four Salvadoran soldiers reported missing since a gang ambush on October 18. Bukele’s comments followed the Gang Suppression Force’s (GSF) announcement that they had received burned remains suspected to be those of the missing personnel but had not yet confirmed their identities.
“They are not our men,” Bukele asserted, adding that the remains corresponded to a child, a much taller man than the Salvadoran technicians, and someone wearing part of a military uniform not associated with El Salvador’s armed forces. He made his statement via social media platform X.
The New York Times first reported the discovery, citing sources connected to the United Nations-backed international mission to combat gangs in Haiti. According to the report, the recovery efforts had been assigned to Hero Client Rescue, a humanitarian organization led by Scott Reece, a former U.S. State Department security official.
A GSF statement released on Sunday acknowledged that they had received burned human remains believed to be linked to the missing personnel, but they cautioned that identification was still pending. Medical professionals are currently examining the remains.
The GSF also addressed circulating images of a military identification card on social media, clarifying that it belonged to a Chadian soldier and was lost during the search for the missing Salvadoran personnel. The soldier remains with his unit, according to the GSF.
Jack Christofides, the special representative of the GSF, expressed empathy for the families of the missing soldiers. “On behalf of the entire personnel of the GSF, our thoughts are with the families of four missing personnel, their fellow soldiers, and the Government and the people of El Salvador during these difficult times,” he said.
The status of the missing soldiers remains uncertain. They were last known to be returning from a supermarket in Santo, located in Croix-des-Bouquets, when their vehicle was attacked, leading to their disappearance.
Neither Haitian security officials nor the gangs in the area have confirmed whether the soldiers are alive or in captivity. Meanwhile, on October 24, the United Nations system in El Salvador denounced the ambush and expressed solidarity with the families affected.
Efforts to locate the missing personnel intensified following the deployment of around 450 additional Salvadoran troops to Haiti between October 22 and 23. Bukele has prioritized the safe return of the four soldiers and warned of potential consequences for the Haitian gangs involved in the ambush.
As of October 25, GSF operations in Santo continue, targeting areas where the gangs Chen Mechan and 400 Mawozo are active.
