Poll: Americans evenly split on whether to send ground troops to fight ISIS

Since the Islamic State terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut, Americans’ reaction to sending U.S. ground troops to assist groups fighting Islamic militants has shifted from majority opposition to an even divide. Forty-seven percent of Americans now favor committing U.S. ground troops to Iraq and Syria for this purpose, while 46% are opposed. In early November, opponents surpassed supporters by 10 percentage points.

The latest survey was conducted a little over a week after the Islamic State group killed nearly 200 civilians in attacks in Paris and Beirut, and following reports that Islamic militants were responsible for bombing a Russian passenger jet over Egypt on Oct. 31, killing all 224 on board. In response to these acts of terrorism, Russia and France have intensified their airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, and French President Francois Hollande is attempting to assemble a global coalition to defeat the militant group.