Levant

Islamic State

ISIS? ISIL? The Islamic State? We really still can't decide?

Governments and news outlets still can't seem to agree on what to call the militants who've named themselves the Islamic State, and now the French government is using yet another term: Daesh, an Arabic acronym. But why can't we figure out what to call these guys?

ISIS? ISIL? The Islamic State? We really still can't decide?
The Iraq War in 2004, captured by Canadian photojournalist Rita Leistner

New photos from Iraq trouble photographer who covered the last war

New photos from Iraq trouble photographer who covered the last war
Shi'ite fighters launch a rocket during clashes with Islamic State militants on the outskirts of al-Alam March 8, 2015.

Why are we having such a hard time coming up with a name for ISIS? (ISIL? Daesh?)

Why are we having such a hard time coming up with a name for ISIS? (ISIL? Daesh?)
Syrian cartoonist Akram Raslan was arrested by Syrian authorities on October 2, 2012 in Hama. He was last seen on July 26, 2013. Reports that he is now dead have been impossible to verify and many hold out hope that he is still alive.

News that a detained Syrian cartoonist is dead is still impossible to verify

News that a detained Syrian cartoonist is dead is still impossible to verify