A survey carried out shortly after the United States and Israel launched a major military operation against Iran suggests that only about a quarter of Americans support the attacks, highlighting weak public approval amid a widening regional conflict.
The Reuters–Ipsos poll was conducted from Saturday to Sunday, before President Donald Trump’s administration confirmed that the first US troops had been killed. Results showed that just one in four respondents approved of the US-Israeli strikes.
The early findings could influence how the Trump administration and US lawmakers proceed in the coming days, particularly with a difficult midterm election season approaching.
On Sunday, Trump vowed to press ahead with what he called a “righteous mission” until “all objectives are achieved”. Referring to the three US service members confirmed killed, he said that “there will likely be more before it ends”.
After a US-Israeli strike killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Trump again portrayed Iran as an existential danger, claiming its leaders “have waged war against civilization itself”.
The poll indicated that many Americans do not share that view. About 43 percent of respondents said they disapproved of the war, while 29 percent were unsure. Republican support was higher but still mixed, with 55 percent approving, 13 percent opposing and 32 percent undecided.
Notably, around 42 percent of Republicans said they would be less likely to support the operation if it resulted in “US troops in the Middle East being killed or injured”. Among Democrats, opposition was overwhelming, with 74 percent disapproving, 7 percent approving and 19 percent unsure.
The survey, released Sunday, comes as Republican lawmakers have largely rallied behind Trump’s stance on Iran, despite concerns it contradicts his campaign pledge to end “endless wars” and limit US intervention abroad under an “America First” agenda.
Some conservative commentators have warned of political risks. “If this war is a swift, easy, and decisive victory, most of them will get over it,” Blake Neff, a former producer for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, wrote on X. “But if the war is anything else, there will be a lot of anger.” He added that “success can override bad explanations. So we must pray for success.”
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, said confirmation of US military deaths “brings home the cost of the war”.
“Americans, by a very large margin, don’t want to be tied up in an ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” he said. “The fact that Americans have died suddenly shows this is not just a video game from the standpoint of America.”
Beyond the three US personnel killed, at least 201 people have died in Iran, nine in Israel, two in Iraq, three in the United Arab Emirates and one in Kuwait. The conflict has also threatened key trade routes, prompting several companies to suspend shipments.
Tehran refuses negotiations; Israeli air strikes kill 31 in Lebanon
The poll also found that 45 percent of respondents, including 34 percent of Republicans and 44 percent of independents, would be less likely to back the campaign if fuel prices rose in the US.
Democrats are closely watching public opinion as the November midterms approach, with affordability central to their campaign messaging. They have criticised Trump’s military actions, including the US abduction of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, as out of step with his promises.
Democratic reactions to the Iran strikes have varied, with some praising the action, others welcoming Khamenei’s death while questioning the justification, and several openly condemning the attacks.
On Sunday, multiple Democrats said the deaths of US soldiers highlighted the need for a war powers resolution requiring congressional approval before further military action.
“I’m thinking of the brave American soldiers killed today,” Senator Chris Van Hollen wrote on X. “They should still be with us.”
“Trump said he would keep us out of war. This is his war of choice.”
A vote on the resolution is expected early this week.