Nearly half of Americans support Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran, according to a new poll, despite left-wing outrage over "escalation" and push for endless diplomacy with a terrorist-sponsoring regime. However, the survey shows that the American people still stand firmly with one of the United States’ closest allies and that Americans recognize Israel’s right to defend itself against the looming threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.
According to a poll released by the Ronald Reagan Institute, 45 percent of Americans said they would support Israel launching targeted airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities if diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran fail. In contrast, 37 percent said they would oppose such action, while 18 percent remained unsure.
The poll, which was conducted before Israel’s Thursday attack on Iran, also revealed a clear partisan divide, with Republicans and Democrats sharply disagreeing on how to handle the threat from Iran.
Six in 10 Republicans said they support Israel’s airstrikes on Iran, with just 27 percent opposed. Among Democrats, support was much lower—only 32 percent backed the strikes, while a majority opposed them. Independents were more divided, with 35 percent in favor and about one-third against Israel’s actions.
Israel’s airstrikes on Iran were met with mixed reactions from party leaders. While many Republicans said the attack could be seen as a way for the people of Iran to overthrow the Iranian regime, several Democrats accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of deliberately sabotaging efforts to resolve Tehran’s nuclear program peacefully.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) said the strikes on Iran could be a “perfect opportunity” for the Iranian people to rise and overthrow the Islamic regime.
“Now that their top leadership has been taken out, if there's ever a time for the people to rise up against this theocracy, I would think the conditions are set,” he said.
However, Democrats, such as Sen. Chris Murphy (Conn.), blamed both President Donald Trump and Netanyahu for creating a crisis that could escalate into a deadly regional conflict. While acknowledging it might politically benefit Netanyahu, Murphy argued the strikes would likely jeopardize the security of Israel, the U.S., and the broader Middle East.
Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) also condemned Israel’s pre-emptive strike on Iran. He argued that the strikes jeopardize the upcoming U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks, which he says are the most viable way to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions and protect American interests in the region.
However, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) backed Israel, saying that the nation “decided it needed to take action to defend itself. They were clearly within their right to do so.”
