The Middle East remains the focus of what Americans perceive as the leading threats to US security, including international terrorism, the rise of violent Islamic extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, and the possibility of a major terrorist attack in the US.
Key Findings
While both Republicans and Democrats feel warmly towards Israel, there are partisan divisions on Israel’s role in resolving key problems in the Middle East and on the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Americans’ top threats to US security emerge out of the ongoing conflict in Syria, including international terrorism, the rise of violent Islamic extremist groups in Iraq and Syria, and the possibility of those groups carrying out a major terrorist attack in the US.
In response, Americans support using US troops to fight against violent Islamic extremist groups in Iraq and Syria.
