The majority of Brits are against any military operations in Syria but agree that a "no-fly zone" be introduced to protect civilians from possible air attacks, according to a survey published on Friday by YouGov.
According to the poll that included 1,651 respondents aged 18 and over, some 60 percent of Brits were against any type of military intervention to protect civilians in Syria; whereas only 18 percent were in favor and another 20 percent abstained from answering the question.
In regard to supporting Syrian insurgents with weapons, 55 percent were against providing them with weapons and only 16 percent said that weapons should be provided to them. A little over one-quarter of the respondents (28 percent) stated it was difficult to decide.
The majority of Brits (60 percent), according to the poll held February 6-7, were in favor of introducing a "no-fly zone" similar to those used in Iraq and Libya in the past in order to protect civilians from air attacks by Syrian government forces. Of the remainder of those polled, 18 percent said they were against creating a "no-fly zone" and 22 percent were undecided.
On the question of who should impose a "no-fly zone," 48 percent of Brits believe only the UN should have the right to impose such a zone; whereas 21 percent said that NATO or the EU itself could create one without the UN's approval.
At least 5,400 people have been killed in the Syrian government's 11-month crackdown on protesters, according to the UN. Syrian authorities blame the violence on armed gangs affiliated with al-Qaeda and say more than 2,000 soldiers and police have been killed.
