Cameron lost a vote in parliament on air strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces in 2013.
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Mr Fallon revealed he is now briefing supportive Labour MPs on the issue, with many poised to side with the government.
Turning to Libya, Cameron said ISIS was taking advantage of the political vacuum in the North African country and said the global community requires a unity government to “counter terrorism”. He added: “It is unlikely that we will be able to agree a yes or no answer”.
Speaking on BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Fallon said ministers were still “building the case”, and were in ongoing conversations with Labour MPs on the issue.
A free vote would avert the threat of mass resignations from pro-war frontbenchers.
The MP also suggested the survey would only reach the new Labour members and registered supporters attracted by Mr Corbyn, as the party did not have email addresses for numerous long-term backers.
The results, which were still being analysed by staff last night, will be presented to meetings of the shadow cabinet and Parliamentary Labour Party being held today.
Unite boss Len McCluskey has waded into the row, accusing Mr Corbyn’s opponents of using Syria as the “thin edge to stage a coup”.
Writing in the Huffington Post, he said: “Backbench MPs are even calling on him to quit for having the temerity to maintain his values and principles…” That is not open debate, it is abuse and should have no place in the party.
He said: “This isn’t about the internal politics of the Labour Party”.
“Yet this bombing will not stop terror attacks”.
He “seriously questioned” Cameron’s claim that there are 70,000 moderate Syrian troops to secure territory vacated by Isis and voiced doubts about their “loyalties”.
He said: “In the last couple of weeks we have seen a steady but small stream of people leave the party, pushed out by Corbyn”.
“I’ve said to Jeremy, if you end up like Michael Foot and Gordon Brown and (Ed) Miliband, as a liability to the party, if you are far less popular than the party when you are coming up to an election, then you have got to go, and I believe Jeremy understands that”.
The Prime Minister said all MPs would have to make their minds up “when the choice comes”.
But Mr Corbyn said he had still not decided whether to allow his MPs to follow their conscience in a free vote – or insist they collectively oppose military action.
His clear statement of opposition to airstrikes is likely to be backed up by the membership and he is also seeking the support of Labour’s ruling national executive committee in a bid to persuade MPs to come round to his view.
But a series of Labour front-benchers, including shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn and deputy leader Tom Watson, have said they would back air strikes.
“He is nearly certainly trying to bounce the shadow cabinet into (opposing airstrikes)”, he told Press Association.
“Obviously there are strong views on both directions”.
“I do not know whether there will be a free vote on Syria or not”.
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This time, the Prime Minister is preparing the ground much more carefully and the outcome of the next vote on this issue in the Commons looks more predictable.
