Syrian public opinion has shifted dramatically since the fall of Bashar Assad last December, with a new survey showing strong support for American involvement and optimism about future relations with Israel.
The YouGov poll, funded by the Council for a Secure America, revealed that 65% of Syrians support US involvement in their nation, while only 12% oppose it. The remaining respondents said they were either neutral or hadn’t decided on the issue.
Regarding Israel, the survey uncovered surprising optimism. Nearly 6 out of 10 respondents – 59% – believe peace between Syria and Israel could happen down the road, while just 14% think it’s unlikely. The remaining participants had no strong opinion either way.
When it comes to security cooperation with Israel, support was even more robust. The poll found 64% of Syrians would back a security partnership, compared to only 9% who would oppose such an arrangement. About 30% remained neutral or undecided on the matter.
However, opinions split more evenly on establishing full diplomatic ties. Nearly half of those surveyed – 47% – said they would support normalizing relations with Israel once Palestinian issues are resolved, while 13% rejected the idea and 40% remained uncertain.
The survey also revealed strong anti-Hezbollah sentiment among Syrians. Seven out of 10 respondents said the Iranian-supported militant organization has harmed their country. Just 11% viewed Hezbollah positively, while over one-third offered no opinion. The Assad regime had maintained strong connections with both Hezbollah and Iran throughout his time in power.
Syria’s new leader, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, received positive ratings from most respondents. About 69% described his job performance as good, while 12% gave him poor marks and 19% weren’t sure. The Trump administration has backed al-Sharaa’s government despite his previous connections to al-Qaida, as his administration works to establish control throughout Syria.
YouGov conducted the research between January 8 and January 15, interviewing 260 Syrian adults selected from a pool of 40,000 panel participants. The survey carries a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
American military personnel continue operating in Syria as part of the ongoing mission against the Islamic State, which Washington considers an active threat despite the recent change in Syrian leadership.
