Manny Ita –
Multiple opinion polls in the United States indicate that a majority of Americans oppose military action against Iran, even as President Donald Trump confirmed that US forces had launched attacks targeting the Iranian regime.
Mr Trump announced on Saturday that the United States military began what he described as a major combat operation in Iran shortly after Israel confirmed its own strikes against Iranian targets. The president said the action was aimed at neutralising what he called an imminent threat to Americans.
“Short time ago, the US military began a major combat operation in Iran. Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime,” he said.
However, several nationwide surveys show that public opinion in the United States largely runs contrary to the president’s decision. A joint poll conducted by The Economist and YouGov between 30 January and 2 February, involving 1,672 American adults, found that 49 per cent of respondents somewhat or strongly opposed US military action against Iran, while only 27 per cent expressed support.
The survey showed strong partisan divisions, with 76 per cent of Democrats opposing military action compared to 57 per cent of Republicans who supported the use of force. While some respondents expressed opposition to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, about 39 per cent rejected the use of military force to remove him from power. YouGov placed the margin of error for the survey at approximately ±3.2 percentage points.
Separate polls conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Quinnipiac University, and the University of Maryland also reported widespread scepticism among Americans toward overseas military engagement and support for a less interventionist foreign policy.
Findings from an AP-NORC survey of 1,203 respondents showed that a majority believed Mr Trump had gone “too far” in his foreign policy approach. Similarly, a Quinnipiac University poll of 1,133 registered voters conducted in January found that seven in ten voters opposed US military involvement in Iran, including 79 per cent of Democrats and 80 per cent of independent voters.
The same poll indicated that 70 per cent of voters believed the president should obtain congressional approval before initiating military action, a step Mr Trump did not take prior to ordering the strikes. Legal analysts and lawmakers have argued that the move may violate both the US Constitution and the War Powers Resolution, which limits a president’s authority to engage in sustained military conflict without congressional consent.
Members of Congress have since moved to introduce legislation aimed at restricting the president’s ability to undertake unilateral military action against Iran. Earlier, Mr Trump criticised Republican lawmakers who supported similar restrictions, saying, “Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators who just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our Powers to fight and defend the United States of America.”
Casualties have already been reported following the escalation. Iranian authorities said at least 40 female pupils were killed after missile strikes hit an elementary school during the attacks carried out by US and Israeli forces.
Despite mounting criticism, Mr Trump defended the operation and reiterated calls for political change in Iran, urging citizens to rise against their government.
“I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” he said, adding that “no president was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight.”
The conflict has rapidly expanded beyond Iran, with retaliatory missile strikes targeting US military installations in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Authorities in the UAE confirmed at least one fatality following Iranian missile attacks, although several targeted bases were reportedly evacuated in anticipation of retaliation.
Analysts have warned that the confrontation risks deepening instability across the Middle East, as multiple Gulf countries shut their airspace, forcing the cancellation and diversion of hundreds of international flights worldwide.
