Americans on Iran strikes: 'What if this turns into a forever war?'

It has been nearly two weeks since Americans woke to the news that the US had carried out strikes against Iran.

Donald Trump has said "we're achieving major strides", but the US president and his administration have offered conflicting statements about what they hope to ultimately achieve.

The operation is a significant turn for a president who campaigned on ending US military involvement abroad.

So far, polling suggests support for the war falls largely along party lines, but even some Republican voters tell the BBC their feelings are complicated. Here, six American voters share their reaction to the war.

Nelson Westrick, 50, Michigan

A Trump supporter, he says he doesn't see the intervention as fitting the president's "America First" promise.

I'm not interested in this war. I didn't want this war. Most of my friends are all good Trump guys like I am, and they're not in tune with this either.

One of the big things in his first term was not starting any wars, and that was a big thing for me.

The biggest concern is the death of American soldiers, for what?

And things are about to go to hell with gas prices, diesel prices, oil.

[Trump] was about to have a roaring economy, with no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime...Inflation was going down, and I think that's all going to go in the tank, if this keeps going.

Misty Dennis, 50, California

This Republican thinks increased gas prices are a small price to pay for the freedom of millions of Iranians.

I don't like war, but finally someone's doing something to stop terrorism - that's commendable. There's finally a president here ready to do something that others haven't.

We live in a country where we have freedom to speak out. Thousands of people were killed in Iran when they were trying to have their own protests.

I think people are forgetting what has happened in Iran in the last 30 years. We're forgetting some of the human rights violations that have been going on.

All I hear is everyone going, 'Well my gas prices are going'. Yeah, well, you live in a great place - you don't live in a place where you're being terrorized by a regime.

Kathryn Vaughn, 43, Tenneessee

This Democrat is a teacher who worries about what the conflict could mean for her students and her family.

Just because I'm a teacher and I'm always with the youth, I'm worried. What if this turns into a forever war? What's that going to mean for my students long term?

It definitely does not feel like it's going to be over quickly.

I'm worried about retaliation stateside. We were thinking about going to New York City this summer, and now maybe not.

Now we're looking at avoiding large gatherings and important structures, no bridges, big buildings, Disneyland - all of that kind of feels a little out of the picture, just for safety.

Jim Sullivan, 55, Indiana

This Republican has mixed feelings and questions what America's role should be in global conflicts.

On the one hand I'm supportive if the regime is removed. But this feels icky that we're in this regime change programme.

You're taking us into a war and a real commitment - where is the participation of the legislative branch, the people's representatives?

If the Islamic Republic is replaced by something that is more democratic for its own people, for its own good, that's great.

But it's a long way from being certain.

I don't know if this is the business the United States should be in, changing regimes that we don't like. I know we don't like them, and I don't like them, but is that what we're supposed to do as a country?

Latim Simon Peter, 35, Minnesota

This Democrat feels the US is making a 'grave mistake' and the war is taking attention away from domestic stories, such as the release of the Epstein files.

If you see what's going on in Iran right now, the [American] people are not really focused on the Epstein files anymore. They're focused on Iran, because it's a bigger issue.

If you look what's happening, people are getting killed. American soldiers are getting hit. They're losing lives, and then you see there's not really any clear goal for where this is headed.

Are they going to stop? It doesn't seem like it. Are they going to exit? It doesn't seem like it.

In just 11 or 12 days, it's real chaos. Just project how it's going to feel in 20 or 30 days?

Shana Ziolko, 41, Missouri

This Democrat worries about prices and whether Americans will be drafted. But most of all, she worries about how the conflict might escalate.

I hate it. I hate it so much.

Prices of everything are insane. I have to think about gas prices since they've jumped up.

I'm most concerned with escalation. All these tiny little wars the administration is popping here and there and everywhere - trouble in Venezuela, trouble in Iran.

I feel like it's already turning into a very global war and that's very concerning.