US strikes on Iran not supported by majority of Americans – poll

Most respondents believe President Donald Trump is too willing to use military force

Only one in four Americans approves of the US military campaign against Iran, a Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Monday has indicated.

Massive US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Saturday, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials, along with hundreds of civilians. Tehran has responded with airstrikes on Israel and several Gulf states hosting US military bases.

The weekend poll of roughly 1,300 US adults found only about 27% approved of the strikes, 43% disapproved, and 29% were unsure. Moreover, 56% of Americans – including one in four Republicans – said US President Donald Trump, who has ordered strikes in Venezuela, Syria, and Nigeria in recent months, is “too willing to use military force” under the pretext of advancing US interests.

While 55% of Republicans approved of the strikes, 42% said they would be less likely to back the Iran campaign if US troops are killed or injured. The poll closed before the Pentagon confirmed late on Sunday three US servicemen had been killed and several wounded.

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Fuel price fears also weighed: 45% said they would be less likely to support the campaign if gas or oil prices rise. Global oil prices jumped by up to 13% on Monday on concerns over tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that carries about 20% of global oil and gas supplies.

Reaction to the campaign on Capitol Hill has been split. Republican senators largely backed Trump’s decision, with Lindsey Graham praising him for “setting in motion the end of evil and darkness” in the Middle East. Most Democrats, however, accused the president of bypassing Congress before “drawing our country into yet another foreign war,” as Adam Schiff put it. Bernie Sanders called the strikes “an illegal, premeditated and unconstitutional war” that violates international law, while Tim Kaine labeled them “a colossal mistake” and said he would force a vote this week on a war powers resolution to curb Trump’s ability to use force against Iran without congressional approval.

“This is a president who ran on ending wars and yet has used the military without congressional authorization in multiple locations… And where next? We don’t know,” he said Sunday, adding that even a failed vote could pressure the White House to shift course or release more details in advance.

READ MORE: ‘Please respect office hours’: EU’s von der Leyen ridiculed over response to Iran crisis

Earlier reports claimed Secretary of State Marco Rubio notified only the ‘Gang of Eight’ – a small bipartisan group of congressional leaders – hours before the operation began.