---
title: "Majority Says No U.S. Responsibility to Act in Syria"
description: "In December, more than six-in-ten Americans continued to say the U.S. does not have a responsibility to do something about fighting in Syria."
date: "2013-01-11"
authors:
  - name: "Pew Research Center"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2013/01/11/majority-says-no-u-s-responsibility-to-act-in-syria/"
---

# Majority Says No U.S. Responsibility to Act in Syria

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2012/12/12-14-12-1.png)

Despite continued fighting in Syria between government forces and anti-government groups, Americans in December continued to say that the U.S. does not have a responsibility to do something about the fighting there. There also continued to be substantial opposition to sending arms to anti-government forces in Syria.

In December, only about quarter of Americans (27%) said the U.S. has a responsibility to do something about the fighting in Syria; more than twice as many (63%) said it does not. These views were virtually unchanged from March.

Similarly, just 24% favored the U.S. and its allies sending arms and military supplies to anti-government groups in Syria, while 65% were opposed. These opinions also were little changed from March.

Comparable majorities of Republicans (66%), Democrats (61%) and independents (65%) said the U.S. does not have a responsibility to do something about the fighting in Syria, and all partisan groups also opposed arming anti-government groups.

Those who had heard a lot about the situation in Syria offered modestly more support for U.S. involvement than those who had heard less (35% vs. 22%), but still, on balance, said the U.S. does not have a responsibility to get involved. [Read more](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2012/12/14/public-says-u-s-does-not-have-responsibility-to-act-in-syria/)