at least 55 people , including hostages and militants , have died the militants targeted an eastern algeria 's desert , the algerian interior ministry said saturday .
cnn is unable to verify the state media figures on the deaths .
just watched balancing profits , security in algeria replay more videos ... must watch balancing profits , security in algeria 04:16 just watched escaped hostage 's family tells tale replay more videos ... must watch escaped hostage 's bamako , mali — the four - day hostage crisis in the sahara reached a bloody conclusion on saturday as the algerian army carried out a final assault on the gas field taken over by islamist militants , killing most of the remaining kidnappers and raising the total of hostages killed to at least 23 , algerian officials said .
afterward , algeria 's military continued to clear mines planted by militants , the official algerian press service reported , citing the country 's state - owned oil and gas company .
the saga closed after a " final " assault , which itself contributed to the deaths of seven hostages and 11 militants , according to algerian state media reports .
some 685 algerian workers and 107 foreigners have been freed , it said .
in a brief statement released early saturday night the president said his administration would “ remain in close touch with the government of algeria to gain a fuller understanding of what took place .
the details of the desert standoff and the final battle for the plant remained murky on saturday night — as did information about which hostages died and how — with even the white house suggesting that it was unclear what had happened .
a senior u.s. official said two americans were among that number .