Poll finds support for airstrikes

More than six in 10 voters in the United States approve of U.S. airstrikes in Iraq. 

A  Fox News poll released Wednesday found 65 percent approve of the strikes targeting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), which has taken over large parts of the country. 

{mosads}Another 23 percent said they disapprove, and 11 percent were unsure. 

The United States has carried out a number of airstrikes in the last week to safeguard U.S. personnel on the ground and help protect members of the Yazidi sect. It has also air dropped humanitarian aide to the civilians stranded on Mount Sinjar. 

The poll found majorities of each party back the strikes. Seventy-three percent of Republicans, 68 percent of independents and 59 percent of Democrats approve of the strikes. 

There is a large gap in approval between men and women. Though 56 percent of women support the strikes, 76 percent of men do. 

Support for airstrikes, however, does not boost President Obama’s approval on his handling of the situation there. 

Thirty-seven percent approve of his handling of Iraq, but 52 percent disapprove. Another 11 percent do not know. His overall approval of foreign policy is not much different, with 35 percent approval.

After sending  20 troops to Mount Sinjar on Wednesday, the Pentagon said there are fewer Yazidis there than previously thought. It attributed the drop in part to the U.S. effort and said an evacuation mission for the civilians is far less likely. 

The poll surveyed 1,001 registered voters from Aug. 10 to 12 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.