NewsLa OpiniónOctober 25, 2026Los Angeles County
International gang suppression force in Haiti contradicts Nayib Bukele over whether discovered bodies belong to missing Salvadoran soldiers
Photo: La Opinión
President Nayib Bukele rejected reports that human remains found in Haiti belong to four missing Salvadoran aviation technicians, while the international anti-gang force stated it cannot yet confirm the victims' identities. The disagreement follows an incident where the Salvadoran service members were reportedly ambushed and abducted by gangs while returning from a market.
Read the full story at La OpiniónWhy It Matters
The incident involves the deployment of 100 special forces soldiers from El Salvador to Haiti for search and rescue operations amid ongoing armed conflict and security challenges.
Key Facts
- President Nayib Bukele denied that bodies found in Haiti are those of four missing Salvadoran aviation technicians.
- The New York Times reported that four charred corpses found outside Port-au-Prince could belong to the missing Salvadoran soldiers, citing four sources and a humanitarian group.
- The multinational Gang Suppression Force stated it is not yet in a position to confirm whether the recovered remains belong to the missing personnel.
- Bukele stated that identification documents and military uniforms from other countries, including Chad, were found among the examined remains.
- El Salvador deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti for search and rescue operations following the disappearance.
- The missing Salvadoran personnel are aviation technicians whose primary role is medical evacuation, not combat.
- The soldiers' armored vehicle was targeted by explosives and burned after they returned from buying food in a local market.
- Armed gangs Chen Mechan and 400 Mawozo are believed to have carried out the ambush.
- Multiple rescue attempts by land and air have been hindered by intense clashes and security conditions in the area.
Who's Mentioned
PersonNayib Bukele“President of El Salvador”Organization400 Mawozo“Haitian gang supporting the attack”OrganizationHero Client Rescue“Humanitarian aid group contracted to recover bodies”locationHaití“Country hosting the international anti-gang force”locationPuerto Príncipe“Capital of Haiti where remains were found”locationChad“Country of origin for an identification document found among the remains”OrganizationThe New York Times“Newspaper that reported on the discovered bodies”OrganizationFuerza de Supresión de Pandillas“Multinational United Nations-backed force in Haiti”locationEl Salvador“Country whose military personnel are missing”OrganizationChen Mechan“Haitian gang believed to have captured the soldiers”OrganizationMiami Herald“Newspaper reporting on the size of the deployed Salvadoran contingent”