What is the difference between ISIS and ISIL?

MAJ Jim Woods — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:24:59 -0400

I am curious. The Administration continues to refer the Syria/Iraq aggressors as ISIL while most media refers to them as ISIS. What, if any, is the difference?

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Sep 2 at 2014 2:34 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:34:48 -0400

Semantics. ISIS = Islamic State in Iraq & Syria. ISIL = Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. The Levant is a historical region of the Western Arabian peninsula that includes Syria, Israel, Lebanon and NW Jordan. So essentially both are accurate.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2014 2:48 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:48:27 -0400

The organization has used both names: ISIS being the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and ISIL being the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. ISIL is the more recent name, and reflects the group's expanding ambitions.

The Levant refers to the entire Eastern end of the Mediterranean - from Anatolia (Turkey) to Egypt and includes the island of Cyprus., most specifically the coastal areas. In origin (very late 15th century) it meant the Mediterranean coastal area that was East of Italy.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2014 4:02 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 16:02:53 -0400

MAJ Jim Woods. They are the very same BAD people . . . on the very same BAD channel!!!

Warmest Regards, Sandy

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2014 8:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 20:30:53 -0400

MAJ Jim Woods I found this interesting:

http://www.vox.com/2014/9/17/6259923/isis-isil-the-islamic-state-daesh-what-is-isis-why-does-obama-use-isil

ISIS, Islamic State or ISIL? What to call the group the US is bombing in Iraq and Syria

What's the right name to use for the use the United States is at war with in Iraq and Syria? It kinda depends on who you ask.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2014 8:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 20:36:25 -0400

The consonant at the end of the acronym?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2016 4:57 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 04:57:53 -0400

The difference is that the US Department of State, the US Government, and the United Nations . . . all use the older name ISIL to denote their refusal to recognize this particular terrorist movement and/or organization as a state ( ISIS ) . . . NOT as often supposed by conspiracy theorists as some kind of offense, denigration, or other denial of the State of Israel. Warmest Regards, Sandy

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

الدولة الإسلامية في العراق والشامad-Dawlah al-Islāmiyah fī 'l-ʿIrāq wa-sh-ShāmParticipant in the Iraq War (2003–2011), Iraqi insurgency, Syrian Civil War, Iraqi Civil War, Second Libyan Civil War, Boko Haram insurgency, War in North-West Pakistan, War in Afghanistan, Yemeni Civil War, and other conflicts