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These Figures Explain Why America is Losing the War Against ISIS

This undated image posted on Aug. 27, 2014 by the Raqqa Media Center of the Islamic State group, a Syrian opposition group, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows a fighter of the Islamic State group waving their flag from inside a captured government fighter jet
This undated image posted on Aug. 27, 2014 by the Raqqa Media Center of the Islamic State group, a Syrian opposition group, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows a fighter of the Islamic State group waving their flag from inside a captured government fighter jet / AP

The U.S. military is carrying out far fewer strikes against Islamic State (IS) forces than it has in previous conflicts, according to statistics codified by the New York Times.

The United States is launching on average 15 air strikes a day against IS forces, which are dispersed across Iraq and making gains in key cities.

This compares to about 50 air strikes a day on average during military operations in Libya and about 80 strikes a day in Afghanistan in 2001. The United States launched around 800 strikes a day at the peak of operations in Iraq, according to the Times.

Experts have described the lack of U.S. military activity as "maddening."

Published under: Islamic State , Military