Poll: Near-majority of Syrians opposed to US air raids
Recent interviews with Syrians and Iraqis throughout both of the war-torn countries has revealed insights into what people on the ground think about the ongoing wars.
2 min read
A slim minority of Syrians polled were opposed to US air raids [Getty]
A recent poll taken in Syria and Iraq by a UK-based market research firm has revealed surprising results - such as that 49 percent of the Syrians polled are opposed to US air raids in Syria - while 56 percent of Iraqis agree to raids in their own country.
ORB International's survey of 1,365 Syrians across the whole country, even in parts under IS control, has shown that the majority of people prefer a political solution to the ongoing civil war, while 22 percent think IS is a positive influence on the country.
"These results show that the situation on the group for ordinary Syrians and Iraqis is deteriorating. This data and other qualitative insight suggest to me that some kind of concerted effort to undermine IS needs to gather momentum," said Johnny Heald, managing director of ORB International.
"The current airstrike campaign lacks majority support in both countries, while opinion in both countries prefers a political rather than military solution to the crisis," Heald added.
Seventy percent of Syrians said they were opposed to splitting up the country and wanted a political solution to the crisis, with a majority thinking a diplomatic solution was possible to end the war.
They thought that Syrians could set aside their differences and live side by side again, while 74 percent of Iraqis said their country should not be divided into autonomous regions.
In Syria, the majority of people interviewed said they believe that the situation is worsening with 21 percent saying they prefer life now to what life was like under the full control of Bashar al-Assad - 40 percent preferred life four years ago and 35 percent said life is essentially the same.
Eighty-two percent of Syrians and 85 percent of Iraqis said that IS is a US-made group, with 75 percent of Iraqis also believing that former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been another driving force in the creation of the terrorist group.
Nearly 80 percent of Syrians said that the war has become worse with the influx of foreign fighters.
ORB International's survey of 1,365 Syrians across the whole country, even in parts under IS control, has shown that the majority of people prefer a political solution to the ongoing civil war, while 22 percent think IS is a positive influence on the country.
"These results show that the situation on the group for ordinary Syrians and Iraqis is deteriorating. This data and other qualitative insight suggest to me that some kind of concerted effort to undermine IS needs to gather momentum," said Johnny Heald, managing director of ORB International.
"The current airstrike campaign lacks majority support in both countries, while opinion in both countries prefers a political rather than military solution to the crisis," Heald added.
Seventy percent of Syrians said they were opposed to splitting up the country and wanted a political solution to the crisis, with a majority thinking a diplomatic solution was possible to end the war.
They thought that Syrians could set aside their differences and live side by side again, while 74 percent of Iraqis said their country should not be divided into autonomous regions.
In Syria, the majority of people interviewed said they believe that the situation is worsening with 21 percent saying they prefer life now to what life was like under the full control of Bashar al-Assad - 40 percent preferred life four years ago and 35 percent said life is essentially the same.
Eighty-two percent of Syrians and 85 percent of Iraqis said that IS is a US-made group, with 75 percent of Iraqis also believing that former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been another driving force in the creation of the terrorist group.
Nearly 80 percent of Syrians said that the war has become worse with the influx of foreign fighters.
On Wednesday, Australia announced its warplanes had carried out their first air raid against IS in Syria, destroying an armoured personnel carrier.
![Activists arrested while protesting US military support for Israel. [Photo by Kristine Jones, courtesy of Adalah Justice Project]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_684x385/public/2024-11/Photo%20Credit%20Kristine%20Jones%20-%20Arrests.JPG?h=2142ea21&itok=-zJER9f0)
Follow the Middle East's top stories in English at The New Arab on Google News
More In News
![A group of Palestinians, foreign and Israeli activists gather to participated in an olive picking event on the land in the town of Battir, which is under threat of confiscation by Israel in Bethlehem, occupied West Bank on 8 November 2024. [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/2182930803.jpeg?h=199d8c1f&itok=8UCQnQHr)