El Salvador Poll Finds 86% Back Haiti Rescue

EL SALVADOR · SECURITY

Most Salvadorans support sending soldiers to Haiti to find four missing colleagues, even though most also fear for the rescuers. The poll was taken as the search entered its second week.

The El Salvador Haiti rescue has the backing of 86% of Salvadorans, a CID Gallup poll showed on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. The firm interviewed 600 adults by phone between 24 and 27 October, with a margin of error of 4 points.

It matters to US readers because the four missing men served in a UN-backed anti-gang force that Washington co-sponsored. The Rio Times El Salvador hub and Haiti crisis dossier follow both stories.

What the Poll Found

Besides the 86% who agree with the rescue operation, 82% said they are worried about the safety of the Salvadorans taking part. Another 51% said they have a lot of confidence that the four will be rescued alive.

Some 68% support keeping or increasing the number of Salvadoran personnel in the international mission in Haiti. And 73% think the government’s response improves the image of El Salvador abroad.

On the president, 94% approve of Bukele’s performance and 91% said they feel very proud of him. Bukele himself highlighted the results, and the poll was taken days after the ambush.

How the Search Began

On Sunday, 18 October, four Salvadoran aviation technicians were attacked in Santo, in the Croix-des-Bouquets area north of Port-au-Prince. The armed forces said their armoured vehicle came under gunfire and blasts and was set on fire.

Bukele says the four were kidnapped by gangs while returning from buying food at a market. He demanded their release alive and warned that the attack was “nothing compared to what is coming” if they are not recovered.

On Sunday, 25 October, the Gang Suppression Force said it had received human remains whose identity was not yet confirmed. Bukele said the remains, handed over by a charity at the airport, were not those of his men.

A gang member in a video claimed the four had died, but that claim could not be verified independently. No source seen by The Rio Times confirms where the four are or what condition they are in.

The Mission and the US Link

El Salvador joined the Haiti effort in January 2025 with eight aviation specialists, and 70 soldiers followed on Tuesday, 4 February 2025. Salvadoran forces, called Task Force Liberty II, mainly provide medical evacuations and protect aircraft and vehicles.

The Legislative Assembly, El Salvador’s parliament, extended the mission by 12 months to October 2027. The Gang Suppression Force replaced a Kenya-led police mission after the United States co-sponsored its 2025 Security Council resolution.

The Organization of American States, a regional bloc in Washington, said the attack needs “more decisive and coordinated measures” against gangs. Its secretary general, Albert Ramdin, expressed solidarity with El Salvador and the families.

Bukele sent reinforcements, including special forces, to Haiti during the week, as the earlier report on the deployment shows. Dominican President Luis Abinader said he discussed logistical and intelligence cooperation with Bukele on Saturday, 24 October.

What It Means for US Readers

Haiti’s gang war is a security and migration problem near US shores, fought with partners such as El Salvador. Strong public support makes it easier for Bukele to keep sending troops.

Nothing in the poll changes travel advice. US citizens should still follow the State Department advisory for Haiti, and a poll is an opinion measure, not an official result.

What Is Not Known

The Rio Times could not open the full CID Gallup datasheet, but four Salvadoran and regional outlets report the same figures. The exact question wording and the share of undecided respondents have not been published.

The size of the Salvadoran reinforcement is unconfirmed, because the government has not given a number. Nobody has verified where the four men are or whether they are alive.

What Comes Next

The search continues with the Gang Suppression Force and Haitian police, and the force says it will share verified information. The first test is whether the four are found.

Another poll will show whether support holds if the mission suffers casualties. This poll does not mean any change in US policy toward Haiti or El Salvador.

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the El Salvador poll find on the Haiti rescue?

It found 86% of Salvadorans agree with the military operation to rescue four technicians missing in Haiti. A further 82% worry about the safety of the rescuers.

Who are the four missing Salvadorans?

They are aviation technicians of the Salvadoran armed forces serving in the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti. They disappeared after an ambush on Sunday, 18 October.

Why does the Haiti mission matter to the United States?

The United States co-sponsored the UN resolution that created the Gang Suppression Force. Haitian gang violence also adds migration pressure across the Caribbean.

Are the missing Salvadorans alive?

Nobody has publicly confirmed that. Bukele says they were kidnapped, and a gang member claimed in a video they died, which could not be verified.

How reliable is the poll?

It used 600 phone interviews and has a margin of error of 4 points. Bukele publicised the results, and a poll measures opinion at one moment only.

Sources: CID Gallup poll of 24-27 Oct, Salvadoran report of 27 Oct; CID Gallup poll, regional report of 28 Oct; CID Gallup poll, Salvadoran report of 27 Oct; Bukele and the poll, Salvadoran report of 27 Oct; CID Gallup, company website; Chronology of the Salvadoran troops in Haiti, 25 Oct; Five keys to the missing military case, 27 Oct; Organization of American States statement, 27 Oct; Dominican president and Bukele, 24 Oct; UN Security Council vote creating the Gang Suppression Force, 30 Sep 2025 (all accessed 28 October 2026).