[vain]

> The official difference between war and terrorism is that war must be officially declared by a government and have specific objectives and once the objective is reached then the killing should stop.

What's your source for this definition?

[hordeallergy]

Also, haven't isil declared war, and with specific objectives?

[vacri]

ISIL's actions in the war zone are acts of war and have fairly standard military objectives. ISIL's actions against uninvolved countries by directly attacking their citizens is terrorism. It's not an either/or situation.

[throwanem]

Which government has recognized ISIL's claim to sovereignty in those territories it still holds, or indeed in any territory at all?

[vacri]

The US and Russia both have claims to sovereignty there!?

[throwanem]

ISIL's claim is the one under discussion, though. That's the one whose recognition would signify in the question of whether their actions are legitimate warfare, by the standard cited earlier in this thread. US and Russian claims are a different question altogether.