Americans worry conflict with Iran could escalate, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

Some 79% of Americans surveyed say they worry that Iran may target US civilians in response to the US airstrikes

Americans are anxious over a brewing conflict between the US and Iran and worry the violence could escalate after President Donald Trump ordered the bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Monday.

Some 79 percent of Americans surveyed said they worried "that Iran may target US civilians in response to the US airstrikes." The three-day poll, which began after the US airstrikes and ended early Monday before Iran said it attacked a US air base in Qatar, showed Americans were similarly concerned about their country's military personnel stationed in the Middle East. Some 84% said they worried in general about the growing conflict.

The poll, which surveyed 1,139 US adults nationwide, underscored deep divisions in America over what Washington should do next and highlighted the political risks faced by Trump, whose presidential approval rating fell to 41 percent, the lowest level of his current term in office that began in January.

The poll had a 3 percentage point margin of error. The US bombing took place just two days ago and the public's view of the conflict could evolve in the days and weeks ahead.

Only 32 percent of respondents said they supported continued US airstrikes, compared to 49 percent who said they were opposed. However, within Trump's Republican Party, 62 percent backed further strikes and 22 percent were opposed. Republicans were more deeply divided when asked if they supported an immediate end to US involvement in the conflict with Iran, with 42 percent saying Washington should end its involvement now and 40% opposed to the idea.

Significant majorities of Democrats were opposed to bombing Iran further and in favor of ending the conflict immediately.

Trump ordered the US military to bomb Iran's nuclear sites on Saturday, a dramatic and risky shift in foreign policy following repeated pledges by Trump to avoid military interventions in major foreign wars.

The president's overall approval rating, down 1 percentage point from 42 percent earlier in the month, has largely held steady in recent months, but is below the 47 percent reading in a Reuters/Ipsos poll just after he returned to the White House.