On the eve of Ramadan, The Islamic State of Syria and the Levant announced its supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is no longer the leader of ISIL, but the caliph of Muslims everywhere. Henceforth, al-Baghdadi will be called “Caliph Ibrahim” and ISIL is now simply called “The Islamic State,” according to the group. A caliph is regarded as the spiritual and political descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. ISIL is aligned with Sunni Muslims, who have not had a caliph since the Ottoman Empire. Charles Lister, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution in Doha, told AFP the formation of the Caliphate is “the biggest development in international jihad since September 11, [2001]. It could mark the birth of a new era of transnational jihadism … and that poses a real danger to al-Qaida and its leadership.” Meanwhile, the Shiite-led Iraqi government launched a counteroffensive against ISIL in Tikrit and Mosul, and received help from Russia to the tune of 25 fighter jets – as Obama waits. More…