US-Led Coalition Losing Fight Against Islamic State - Poll

64 percent of US citizens believe the United States and its allies are losing the war against the Islamic State (ISIL), according to the poll results.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A majority of US citizens believe that the United States and its allies are losing the fight against the Islamic State (ISIL) jihadist group, according to the results of a poll published Monday.

Only 17 percent of respondents consider the coalition’s campaign successful against 64 percent who believe the United States and its allies are losing the war, according to the Quinnipiac University, that conducted the poll.

Some 64 percent of respondents said that the United States should focus on its internal problems rather than “continue to push forward to promote democracy and freedom in other countries around the world.”

The telephone survey of over 1,700 respondents throughout the United States was conducted May 19-26.

The US-led international coalition has been conducting airstrikes against ISIL militants in Iraq since August 2014 and in Syria since September 2014.

Despite the military campaign, the ISIL continues making significant advances in both countries. On May 17, the ISIL seized the city of Ramadi, located just 80 miles from the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

More than 50 percent of Syria is now controlled by the ISIL after militants seized the ancient city of Palmyra on May 20, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).