Syria appears to be moving towards a more positive relationship with the United States and Israel, according to a recent survey. This change is reflected in the increasing favorability toward both countries among the Syrian population.
A YouGov poll, commissioned by the U.S. Security Council, indicates that 65% of Syrians hold a favorable view of American involvement in Syria, while only 12% express opposition. The remainder is either neutral or undecided.
Interestingly, the survey revealed that 59% of respondents believe that peace with Israel is a likely outcome in the future. In contrast, 14% think it’s unlikely, and the rest remain uncertain.
Meanwhile, 64% of those surveyed expressed support for a security agreement with Israel, although just 9% explicitly oppose it, while a significant portion remained neutral or indifferent.
On the subject of normalization, 47% of respondents supported establishing relations with Israel contingent upon the Palestinian resolution; 13% were against it, and a notable 40% were unsure.
Another surprising insight is that 70% of Syrians view the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah negatively, which might reflect the country’s complex historical ties. In the past, former President Bashar al-Assad maintained close relationships with Hezbollah and Iran.
For Syria’s new president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, this news is promising. Sixty-nine percent of residents rated his performance as “good,” with only 12% giving it a poor evaluation, while the remaining were hesitant in their judgment.
The survey, conducted between January 8 and 15, involved 260 Syrians aged 18 and older, drawn from a pool of 40,000, and it has a margin of error of about 5 percentage points.
Despite his past association with al-Qaeda, the Trump administration has backed President al-Sharaa, who is now focused on consolidating power after ousting Bashar al-Assad in December 2024.
Nonetheless, U.S. military actions against ISIS continue in the region.
In response to the killing of two American soldiers, U.S. forces recently launched extensive airstrikes targeting ISIS, reportedly resulting in the capture or death of 50 militants.
A parallel survey in Lebanon found that 63% of participants support measures to disarm Hezbollah, suggesting a significant shift in public sentiment, as only 9% opposed such efforts. Furthermore, 52% of Syrians believe that terrorist organizations are compromising Lebanon’s security, indicating a decline in Iranian influence.
Only 11% of respondents viewed Hezbollah positively, while more than a third had no opinion. Interestingly, attitudes towards the United States differ between the two countries; in Lebanon, a greater percentage view the U.S. negatively (39% as opposed to 27% positively).
When asked about the potential for peace between Israel and Lebanon, 40% expressed optimism, while 24% were pessimistic, and the rest remained neutral.
The findings also revealed that only a quarter of Lebanese support normalizing relations with Israel post-Palestinian conflict resolution, which is considerably lower compared to Syria’s figures.
In conclusion, the ongoing trends suggest that both Syria and Lebanon are moving away from Hezbollah’s influence. While normalization with Israel may still be a distant prospect, the opinion shift in Syria is evident, with many believing in the possibility of future peace.
“These trends present opportunities for the U.S. to strengthen traditional partners, weaken proxies, and promote stability in the region,” said an executive director of the Safe America Council. “As significant changes continue to unfold in the Middle East, we remain cautiously optimistic.”
The American Security Council advocates for strong U.S.-Israel relations and emphasizes energy independence.
