ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) What is the Levant? Why is it important?

2015-11-26T10:32:28-05:00

We hear the term ISIL so often now that we don't even give it a thought other than, they are our enemy, a threat to our country, our culture, our way of life.

Islamic State of Iraq - so everyone pretty much gets what this area encompasses but what is the Levant? This is something that is very significant.

The Levant encompasses an area that includes the states of and or parts of Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, and Egypt. It is a traditional name that refers to the region.

The Syrian uprising, in 2011 against President Bashar Assad, allowed ISIS to pursue it's greater ambitions. Al-Baghdadi dispatched militants to Syria to set up a group called the Nusra Front while continuing to fight in Iraq. Move forward to the spring of 2013 when after building a base of strength ISIS was ready to make a move and they announced they would now lead a Jihad in both Iraq and Syria.

Now we have the polarization of a fundamentalist group focused on building/restoring the medieval Islamic State sometimes referred to as the Caliphate and the Syrian fighters who's goal is to overthrow the government of Assad.

The Islamic State has adjusted its tactics and message to best meet the desires of the local populations.

"In Iraq, they portray themselves as the protectors of the Sunni community," al-Tamimi said. "In Syria, they are much more open about their ideology and project."

Their projected desire is to control the area known as Levant which includes parts, if not the entire countries of Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Palestine, and Egypt.

The Levant is strategically important because it allows for the control of sea trade for the eastern part of the Mediterranean. It is important land wise because it controls the land routes for commerce in the area. It gives ISIS a military land advantage and open seaports for jumping to other Mediterranean areas for future expansion and it gives them control over to the Arabian Desert.

Response by MAJ Alvin B. made Nov 26 at 2015 10:38 AM

2015-11-26T10:38:40-05:00

Simply put, the Levant is the cradle of Western Civilization. it is the birthplace of three great religious traditions and th cross roads if the ancient world.

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Nov 26 at 2015 10:38 AM

2015-11-26T10:38:55-05:00

Thank you for posting this, CPT Private RallyPoint Member, I have heard this before, and it is one of my hot buttons with our current POTUS. He speaks always of ISIL as if it already exists. Is it any wonder that our allies in Israel are very insecure about their current relationship with the US?

Have a Great Thanksgiving !!

Response by CAPT Hiram Patterson made Nov 26 at 2015 11:47 AM

2015-11-26T11:47:46-05:00

I refer to them as Daesh as many Arabs would.

Response by SPC Robby Robinson made Nov 26 at 2015 12:57 PM

2015-11-26T12:57:43-05:00

POTUS insists that he refuses to address these clowns as radical Islamic terrorists because they are NOT followers of Islam, they are not Muslims. Yet every time he refers to them as ISIS/ISIL, he is referring to them as members of the Islamic State, whether in Iraq and Syria or in Levant.
I have been shouting from the rooftops for the last year stop calling them ISIS/ISIL, every time you do you lend credence to these animals being successful in creating an Islamic State. Call them Daesh!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-11-26T13:04:10-05:00

The Islamic State has taken advantage of chaos in Syria and bumbling ineptitude in Iraq to carve out an empire in the area. But I would point out where their advance has been halted, not where it has thrived. As soon as they hit areas that are not ethnically Arab, or Sunni in faith, resistance stiffens. ISIS has been pretty careful to stay out of those areas (with some exceptions for smaller minorities like the Yazidi), because it will bring a harsher response. If they were to push into Turkey, for example, I have little doubt that the Turks would obliterate them, and wouldn't be fettered by ROE while they did so.
We need to recognize it for what it is - a radical Sunni Arab movement to build a pan-Arab state. This is a clear and present danger to other Arab countries, but it also is a direct threat to Shia Arabs in the region. That is why you see Iran heavily engaged despite not being threatened directly. Iran would like a greater Persian Empire too.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 3:53 PM

2015-11-26T15:53:34-05:00

ISIS has never been the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The last S in ISIS stands for al-sham, which is an area larger than Syria http://www.infowars.com/what-does-isis-really-stand-for/
Al-sham is a derivative of the Arabic term for the north. ISIS became ISIL when western governments/media tried to translate al-sham into an English word - levant.

What Does ISIS Really Stand For?

Sham’s roots run very deep – and very dangerously

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Nov 26 at 2015 4:08 PM

2015-11-26T16:08:59-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member, my brain is a bit slow, but... So, ISIL is the actual "land" of the enemy, and ISIS is the "ideology" within the land? In my head, that would explain why we can't actually "declare war in ISIS", but why can't we declare war on ISIL? Or am I missing another piece of this? I mean, I understand that all of the negative activities (attacks, etc) is claimed by ISIS, not ISIL... Is that a significant piece in this? My apologies if the questions sound a bit "odd"...