Brussels: Recent public opinion surveys across Europe have revealed significant opposition to the joint US and Israeli military strikes on Iran.
According to Anadolu Agency, these surveys indicate that large segments of the population in several European countries, including Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK, are against military interventions and favor their governments maintaining cautious or neutral stances.
In Spain, a rapid poll conducted by Madrid-based research firm 40dB for the newspaper El Pais and Cadena SER radio found that approximately 68% of respondents disapprove of the US and Israel's actions against Iran. The survey further revealed that 57% support Spain's decision not to provide military assistance to the US and Israel, while 53% believe that US military bases in Spain should not be used for operations related to the conflict. Additionally, around 42% of respondents expressed approval of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's handling of the crisis, with nearly 80% indicating close attention to developments and expressing concern as the predominant sentiment.
A similar pattern emerged in Italy, where a poll conducted by Rome-based research company YouTrend for Sky TG24 television found that 56% of respondents oppose the US and Israeli military intervention against Iran. Support for the attacks was notably higher among center-right voters, with 57% in favor, whereas 79% of center-left voters opposed the intervention. Furthermore, 48% of respondents suggested that the Italian government should remain neutral and act as a mediator, while 29% advocated for condemning the attacks and calling for an immediate ceasefire.
In Germany, a public opinion survey published by public broadcaster ARD highlighted a lack of public trust towards the US and Israel, with 58% of respondents considering the war unjustified. Concerns about the conflict potentially spreading to other nations were voiced by 75% of participants, while trust in the US dropped to 15%, the lowest in two decades. Only 17% of respondents saw Israel as a reliable partner, with 85% perceiving global politics as increasingly dominated by a 'might makes right' mentality.
In the UK, polls conducted by London-based research and data analysis company YouGov demonstrated limited support for US strikes on Iran. A survey conducted on March 2, post the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, found that 49% of Britons opposed the strikes, while 28% supported them. Additionally, a significant portion of respondents voiced opposition to using Royal Air Force bases in the UK for US strikes against Iran. A study from the end of February revealed 58% opposition to such use, and even when restricted to 'missile targets' in the March 2 survey, opposition remained at 50%. The research also indicated that 45% of Britons believe the government should neither praise nor condemn US strikes on Iran. Meanwhile, 47% of respondents felt that Prime Minister Keir Starmer has poorly handled the US-Iran tensions, contrasted with 34% who believed he managed the situation well.
The escalation in regional tensions followed the February 28 launch of joint US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, resulting in over 1,000 casualties, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls, and senior military officials. This conflict has sparked regional instability and retaliatory strikes from Tehran against US-affiliated sites throughout the region.