A new survey finds most Americans support "limited military involvement" in Syria to fight against ISIS. The poll also showed few Americans support admitting Syrian refugees in the United States.
The survey, which was released Monday, was conducted June 10 though June 27 by GfK Custom Research on behalf of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The survey is based on a national sample of 2,061 adults.
Some 36 percent of Americans polled are in favor of admitting refugees from Syria. When broken down along party lines, 56 percent of Democrats supported taking in Syrian refugees, compared with 32 percent of Independents and 18 percent of Republicans.
Among other key findings, just 42 percent of poll respondents favored the idea of sending combat troops into Syria to fight "violent Islamic extremist groups." Along party lines, 53 percent of Republicans, 42 percent of Democrats and 32 percent of the Independents polled supported the notion of U.S. military intervention in Syria.
Seventy-two percent of those surveyed supported airstrikes against violent Islamic extremist groups in Syria. The strategy gained approval from 80 percent of Republicans, 71 percent of Democrats and 69 percent of Independents.
Another question gauged support for sending Special Ops forces to fight violent Islamic extremist groups in Syria. Overall, 57 percent of survey respondents backed the tactic, with support coming from 66 percent of Republicans, 56 percent of Democrats and 52 percent of Independents.
Additionally, the poll found that "creating a no-fly zone over Syria is supported by 52 percent of Americans overall, including 54 percent of Republicans, 56 percent of Democrats and 47 percent of Independents."
Here are other findings from the survey, as detailed by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
Americans Cautious About Taking Sides
Americans are especially wary of U.S. involvement in the conflict between the regime of Syrian President Assad and the anti-government forces fighting against him.
- Just 26 percent of Americans support sending arms and supplies to anti-government groups in Syria, with little variation across parties (27 percent Republicans and Democrats, 25 percent Independents).
- Only 31 percent of Americans support the United States helping to negotiate a peace agreement that would allow President Assad of Syria to remain in power. Republicans are particularly skeptical of negotiating an agreement that allows Assad to remain in power (only 22 percent support compared to 39 percent of Democrats and 29 percent of Independents).
The poll's margin of error ranges from plus or minus 2.2 to 3.5 percentage points. The margins of error are higher for partisan subgroups.