A bullet pierced the side of a tractor-trailer on an Arizona freeway Thursday, and police said they were treating it as the 11th attack in a string of shootings over the past two weeks that have terrorized drivers in the Phoenix area, NBC News reported.

The governor pleaded for the public's help earlier in the day and authorities said they could be dealing with more than one gunman.

In less than two weeks, 10 other shootings have been reported on or near Interstate 10. Seven have been bullet strikes, and the others were unspecified projectiles, which could mean BBs or pellets.

Police say drivers have been lucky so far: The only injury was a 13-year-old girl who was cut by flying glass when the window of her car was shattered by a bullet.

Cromwell police are investigating several car thefts and break-ins that have happened in the past month.

Police responded to multiple car break-ins at six houses on Sept. 8, including at least two incidents of stolen cars. In those cases, the owners left their cars unlocked with their keys inside.

At least two cars were broken into at a Super 8 motel in town that same night, but police don't think they were related to the stolen cars.

Three of four cars stolen have been recovered that were left along roads in Cromwell and police are still looking for a 2007 Lincoln Navigator with a license plate that says 878YAT.

Multiple cars were broken into and stolen on Highridge Road, Old Colony Road and at a condo complex off Old Colony on Aug. 10, police said.

Police are asking for the public's help to find the person(s) responsible and get any information on the break-ins and car thefts.

No suspects have been identified at this time.

Cromwell police are urging residents not to leave any keys or valuables in their cars and to lock car doors.

Police have released surveillance footage as they search for two men caught on camera flagging down a middle school student and trying to lure her into their van after she got off the bus in Newington last Friday.

Newington police said the school bus dropped off the student in the area of Eighth Street on Friday afternoon. The girl was walking home when two men in a minivan waved to her and made her uncomfortable.

An exclusive video provided to NBC Connecticut shows the moment when police said two men in a van approached a middle school student and tried to lure her inside.

Suzanne Battistini's son rides the school bus with the girl and said the girl is certain the men were up to something bad.

"She just said that they tried to kidnap her," Battistini said. ".... You can't trust anybody nowadays and that's a scary thought."

The girl didn't get in and ran home. She told family members, who in turn contacted police.

The incident has many parents in the Newington community on edge.

"Everyone is scared. That’s like the worst thing that could happen… for your child to be abducted," Michael Krish, of Newington, said. ".... You hear about it, but it's actually happening here."

Police are working to find the van and identify the men involved.

Anyone with information was asked to call Newington police at 860-666-8445.

The National Crime Prevention Council offers tips to parents about keeping kids safe when they're not at home, like pointing out safe places so kids know where to head if they feel unsafe or danger strikes or telling kids to speak up when they feel there's danger.

"I never worry, honestly, I never worry," Lisa Alexander, of Newington, said. "Now I’m more on top of it. Who is out here?"

Parents are reminding their kids not to talk with strangers.

"Just go right home and not to stop to talk to people who are pulling over in cars or strangers," Karen Colossa, of Newington, said.

Authorities have launched a death investigation after four bodies and "other remains" were discovered Wednesday evening inside a Chicago suburban home believed to be an off-the-books mortuary service. One family's attorney said they have spent years trying to retrieve their loved ones' remains. 

At about 7:30 p.m., Illinois State Police crime scene investigators were called to a residence 13900 block of South Dearborn Street at the request of the Riverdale Police Department.

Illinois State Police said four bodies were found inside a garage at the home, while a spokesperson for the Cook County medical examiner said "other remains" were also located. The genders and ages of the bodies were not immediately known.

The bodies and remains were ordered to the medical examiner's office for examination and autopsies, officials said.

State police said Anton Godfrey had been storing bodies and human remains at their home as part of a mortuary service he was running out of his home. However, police said Godfrey died on August 29th.

Police said Godfrey had been the subject of multiple court orders to cease and desist running the in-home mortuary that was known as Living Waters.

NBC5 Investigates learned just two years ago, regulators with the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation found that Godfrey – doing business as “Living Waters Funeral Services” at an address on the 8100 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue – made funeral or cremation arrangements for 25 different decedents in a three-year period between 2009 and 2012 despite never having a license as a funeral director or embalmer.

The state ordered Godfrey to pay a $10,000 fine in that case. A department spokesman said Thursday that Godfrey never did pay the money.

NBC5 Investigates also found that Godfrey may have even mishandled the body of one of his own relatives. According to a state filing, Godfrey handled the cremation arrangements for a relative who died in 2012, and took possession of the body in March of 2012. However, the state said the body was not disposed of until six months later when the family finally got a licensed funeral director “to intervene and finalize the disposition of the body.”

The family of Pompey Hicks, who died nearly four years ago, filed a lawsuit last week against Living Waters, having not received remains from the off-the-books mortuary service.

The attorney for the family told NBC5 Investigates: “We don’t know if Mr. Hicks body or body parts had been found but I think this will assist us in the case.”

“The hicks had struggled with this for some time the fact that they’re loved ones remains had not been returned,” the attorney added.

One tombstones found on the property for a man named Anthony Bernard whose murder went unsolved brought up bad memories for his brother Michael.

"It's so sad cause we still don't know what happened to him and to bring this up, it's so sad," Michael said. "They should have been professional, not stuff scattered here and there."

Parents and student-athletes across Connecticut will be required to have concussion identification and management tools this year in an effort to reduce the risks of concussions among players.

They’ll receive a copy of the "Concussion Plan and Guidelines for Connecticut Schools" as the result of a law introduced by State Sen. Dante Bartolomeo in 2014.

"This comprehensive information packet includes signs of and symptoms, risks posed by concussions, how to obtain medical treatment, the danger of ignoring these signs and continuing to play," said Bartolomeo.

The concussion plan also has information on procedures to follow so athletes can get back on the field safely after being injured.

"This just helps us to address those safety issues so students can come to school more often and not have to go through these types of injuries," said Platt High School Principal Robert Montemurro.

Dr. William Pesce with the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain says the facility hopes to provide much-needed continuing education in Connecticut.

"We’re going to have workshops and educational sessions that are run predominantly by our neuropsychologists that will discuss the impact of concussion. What is a concussion and what you do to follow up with that student athlete," said Pesce.

The new concussion plan aims to catch the signs of concussions earlier and prevent them.

"The purpose of this is to prevent concussions and to help our coaches our student athletes and our guardians understand the risks, identify the symptoms and property manage the concussion," said Bartolomeo.

All coaches will also be required to take concussion education course to receive their coaching permit.

Police are investigating the armed robbery of an electronics store in Hamden.

Hamden police said two people, one with a rifle, entered the Game X Change store at 2165 Dixwell Avenue around 9 p.m. Tuesday. They got away with cellphones, electronics and an undisclosed amount of cash.

The two robbers ran northbound through the parking lot. A police K-9 tried unsuccessfully to track them down.

Police said both culprits are between 25 and 30 years old and were wearing masks, gloves and hooded clothing.

Anyone with information is asked to call Hamden Major Crimes Det. Joseph Liguori at 203-230-4040.

The General Electric team examining where the company headquarters will be located will have an answer during the fourth quarter of the year, CEO Jeff Immelt told CNBC Thursday.

GE has been headquartered in Fairfield for 40 years and employs 800 people in Connecticut. The company has recently publicized plans to potentially leave the state.

"It means you want to be somewhere where people support job creation where it's attractive to talent, that it has a low cost of living and is very attentive to what a high-tech exporter is all about," Immelt said of looking at new locations for the GE corporate office. "It is a global battle that we're in and we need people that are on our side."

Connecticut lawmakers approved a budget last June with more than $1 billion in increased corporate taxes. Even though one of the taxes won't go into effect until the next fiscal year, GE expressed concern that such increases could lead the company's brass to reevaluate its relationship with the state it's called home for more than 40 years.

"We'd never do something like this carelessly or casually, but we're also quite intent on being aligned with where we go," Immelt added.

One man who helped to find homes for the original set of GE executives is William Raveis, the name on "for sale" signs across Connecticut.

William Raveis the company touts itself as the biggest residential realtor in the state. Raveis is based in Southport and has a significant presence in towns such as Westport, Easton and Ridgefield.

"I remember we moved in GE, and I remember GE gave a 14- or a 15-percent increase in their salary to people just by relocating here to Connecticut," Raveis said during an exclusive interview.

He said back in the 1980s when Connecticut became a corporate center, there were many reasons to move this part of New England.

"We didn’t have an individual income tax, the taxes were very low. The school systems are great. The people are great," Raveis said.

As a realtor, convincing people to purchase homes nearby without connections to GE made it even easier. The idea of GE was a selling point.

"It’s symbolic of what the state is. I mean, to have a world-class corporate headquarters in our state says this is a world-class state," he explained.

Now the possibility of GE leaving could leave a gaping hole in the hearts of people in Connecticut, as well as local budgets, according to Raveis. He predicts that other companies will take notice and avoid Connecticut if they consider relocating.

"Now if GE does leave, that basically is a death knell for us in terms of corporate movement into this state, and as a result of that, prices of housing will go down, the taxes will go up; it’s going to get worse," he said.

Raveis said he's also seen warning signs in his line of work.

"We have 41-percent market share in some of these high-end towns and some of the properties are languishing," he said. "The house has been there for a year or 18 months. It’s embarrassing that it’s been there that long."

Raveis is still committed to the state of Connecticut and said he plans on working to improve his business. He said he's hopeful Connecticut decision-makers find a way to convince GE officials to stay in a state they've enjoyed for four decades.

"We can't lose GE," Raveis said. "It will take us 10 years to recover."

A man in his mid-to-late 50s was killed in a tree-cutting accident in East Hampton on Wednesday evening, according to the police chief.

Police said the man was cutting down a tree at a home on Country Lane when he was involved in an accident. A neighbor found him injured around 5:15 p.m.

The man died of his injuries. He has not been publicly identified.

Friday marks the 14th anniversary of 9/11 and many Connecticut towns are holding memorials.

Here's a list of 9/11 memorial services scheduled in the state:

• Avon - The Avon Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual 9/11 memorial service at 8:30 a.m. at the Company 1 fire station at 25 Darling Drive. The CT Firefighters' Pipe and Drum unit and Avon High School chamber choir are participating in the event. Avon Police Officer Sue Kassey will read her original poem about 9/11 and Connecticut Air National Guard Col. Roy V. Walton, who is the commander of the 103rd Mission Support Group, will say some reflections on 9/11, according to the Avon Volunteer Fire Department website.
   
• Fairfield - The Fairfield Fire Department headquarters on Reef Road is holding 9/11 ceremony at 9 a.m., remembering the fallen heroes who died that day.
   
• Derby - There will be a 9/11 service on the Derby green at 6 p.m.
   
• Plantsville section of Southington - There will be a memorial service at the corner of Summer and Main Streets at 8:46 a.m. The suggested arrival time is 8:30 a.m. so you allow plenty of time for parking.

   

The chairmen of the two tribal councils that run casinos in Connecticut signed an accord Thursday to work together for a common purpose – "to protect Connecticut jobs" – by building a third casino in the state.

The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribal nations also want to protect their businesses, the largest casinos in North America. MGM in Springfield, Massachusetts, is slowly building a casino downtown, which will likely lure gamblers who now head to southeastern Connecticut.

The Connecticut tribes want to cut them off, together, with a third casino in the state.

"We arrive here after centuries of tribal conflict, decades of gaming competition, and we’re here to cooperate in the spirit of all things Connecticut," said Kevin Brown of the Mohegan Tribal Council.

The Enfield Square Mall would like to provide the site where Macy’s is now located for a third Connecticut casino. The owner of the old Showcase Cinemas in East Hartford wants the tribes to consider his location. East Windsor has a defunct Showcase Cinemas as well, and that town has already set up a process for citizens to vote on a casino.

The tribes have commissioned Pearce Real Estate to help them select the site. The new casino would have enough card games to give dealers some job security if Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun have to cut back.

"If our workers lose their job through layoff, they’ll be able to go over there and work at the casino here in Connecticut, another casino," said Denise Gladue, who along with her daughter is a dealer at Foxwoods.

Whatever the tribes decide is subject to a vote of the state legislature, and could be vulnerable to a lawsuit from MGM claiming the state government is unconstitutionally discriminating by favoring the two tribes that already operate casinos in Connecticut.

The state government depends on the casinos’ slot machines for hundreds of millions of dollars a year in revenue.

Police have blocked off part of Mullen Hill Road in Waterford after the pavement collapsed during heavy rainfall Thursday afternoon.

Waterford police said the road is closed in the area of 20 Mullen Hill Road.

So far, more than 3 inches of rain has fallen in the region over the span of just a couple hours. 

According to police, Route 1 is also flooded at the intersection of Tiffany Lane.

Some school buses had to turn around and make detours as a result of street flooding, but police said all children have been accounted for.

Police, firefighters and the public works crews are responding to flooding reports around town.

Waterford police are warning residents to expect another "large amount of rain" over the next couple hours.

"If an area looks flooded, DO NOT DRIVE INTO IT, call it into our dispatch center," police posted on Facebook. "If a roadway looks unstable, do not drive on it."

Police are also urging residents to inform them of power outages and other weather-related issues by calling 860-442-9451.

Naugatuck police have arrested a man and woman accused of taking apart soccer goals in town and stealing metal parts worth more than $10,000 to sell as scrap metal.

Phillip Kelly, 37, and Jamie Perugini, 35, are facing charges.

Police said they disassembled about 10 soccer goals at Rotary Field in Naugatuck late last month and stole parts valued at more than $10,000. Some of those parts turned up at a local scrap metal yard.

Kelly and Perugini were each charged with second-degree larceny, criminal trespass, first-degree criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit all three. Perugini was additionally charged with interfering with an investigation.

It's not clear if either has an attorney.

A good soaking rain is just what Connecticut’s farmers were wishing for in July and August, but it didn’t come until Thursday.

“I’m happy, but it’s a little late," said Steve Bengtson, owner of Cold Spring Brook Farm.

Planting season started in May, and Mother Nature was less than cooperative.

“The ground was like powder by the end of the month," Bengtson recalled.

Connecticut soil suffers from a five inch deficit, but the amount of rain isn’t the only problem. Experts say it’s not even the biggest.

“The problem has been it’s been a long period of time since we’ve had rain." said Connecticut Farm Bureau Executive Director Henry Talmage.

With only two inches combined through July and August, vulnerable crops like peppers and sweet corn are showing signs of stress.

“The stress from lack of moisture can relay into total crop failure, reduction in yields, in some cases wilting and crop damage," said Talmage. Even if the crop grows, lack of rain can still hurt the harvest.

“The size of the fruit is affected and the quantity of the fruit is affected," Bengtson explained.

Bengston said this year irrigation saved his crop. In the absence of rain, he used 1,500 gallons of water every day. And Thursday's rain is a good start even if it's too late for some crops.

“A good soaking rain of at least an inch will make a difference on the crops that are border line," Talmage said.

Some crops like the dry weather. Bengtson said his tomatoes are sweeter than usual. Talmage added that wine grapes also get more sweet in hot dry conditions. He said despite suffering some stress, apples are expected to be strong as well. At this point with the fields soaking up the raindrops, they're looking on to the next season.

“I’m happy we’re getting it though, because that will help us to get ready for fall." Bengston said. 

A U.S. Marine was killed Thursday and 18 other service members were injured in a vehicle accident at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.

A Marine Corps spokeswoman issued a statement saying the injuries happened in a vehicle rollover accident during a routine training excercise.

The name of the deceased Marine, assigned to the 1st Marine Division, has not been released, pending notification to family members.

The extent of the injuries was not released, nor were any details about the type of vehicle involved.

Several people involved in the accident were taken to Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, hospital spokeswoman Bobette Brown told the Associated Press. But she could not confirm how many are being treated.

"The command's priorities are to take care of the Marines, Sailors and families of the unit," said 1st Lt. Colleen McFadden, public affairs officer of 1st Mar. Div., in a statement. "We want to ensure the Marines and their family members are being provided for during this difficult time."

Basilone Road was closed from Camp Las Pulgas to Camp Horno.

An investigation has been launched and no further details on the circumstances of the accident have been released.

Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, was also the site of an explosion that killed four Marines in November 2013. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Marines died during range maintenance operations to dispose of an unexploded ordnance.

In January 2015, two Marine Corps officers stationed at Camp Pendleton were killed when their helicopter crashed in Twentynine Palms.

The ramp from Route 8 to Interstate 84 in Waterbury has reopened following a crash that stalled traffic Thursday night, according to the Department of Transportation.

State police said a car crashed on Route 8 northbound near exit 31 to I-84 east. The ramp was closed and footage from the scene showed significant delays.

There has been no word on injuries.

No additional information was immediately available.

Check back for updates.

Federal authorities have arrested a 31-year-old New Hartford man accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girl and taking explicit photos and videos of two other teens.

Daniel Jesse Conrad, 31, of New Hartford, is facing federal charges of production and possession of child pornography and enticing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

He was arrested in August 2014 on charges of second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor. Court records show Conrad has pleaded not guilty to both.

According to federal authorities, Conrad met one 15-year-old Connecticut girl through the online video chatting service Omegle in February 2014.

They then took their conversation to the messaging app Kik and finally met in person in March 2014, when Conrad drove the teen to Massachusetts and engaged in sexual activity with her, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Federal officials said Conrad had sex with the teen on several occasions between March and June 2014 at his home in New Hartford. He used his iPhone to take pictures of her during the encounters, according to authorities.

Conrad also allegedly "persuaded and enticed" the teen to take sexually explicit photos of herself and send them to him.

During the investigation into Conrad, federal officials found more than 40 recorded video chat sessions between Conrad and another 15-year-old girl, which show the teen engaging in sexual activity, according to the Justice Department.

A search of his iPhone revealed explicit photos of a third, unidentified girl who officials say appears to be underage.

Conrad turned himself in Wednesday and appeared before a judge in federal court in New Haven. He was released on $25,000 bond and electric monitoring.

If convicted, Conrad could face anywhere from 15 to 30 years in prison for producing child pornography, along with 10 years to life in prison for enticing a minor and up to 10 years for possessing child pornography, according to the Justice Department.

It's not clear if he has an attorney.

Two Bridgeport residents have been diagnosed with West Nile virus, according to the Department of Public Health.

They're the first human cases of West Nile in Connecticut this year.

State officials said one patient, in his or her 40s, fell ill with meningitis during the third week of August. The second patient, a person in his or her 70s, got sick with encephalitis during the fourth week of August.

Both patients displayed similar symptoms, including fever, nausea, vomiting and weakness, according to public health officials. They were treated at the hospital and have since been released.

Officials said neither person left the state before developing symptoms.

"The identification of Connecticut residents with West Nile virus associated illness that required hospitalization underscores the potential seriousness of infection," DPH veterinarian Dr. Randall Nelson said in a statement Thursday. "Using insect repellant, covering bare skin and avoiding being outdoors during the hours of dusk and dawn are effective ways to help keep you from being bitten."

West Nile virus has been identified in 20 Connecticut communities so far this year, including Bridgeport, Cheshire, Chester, Darien, East Haven, Glastonbury, Greenwich, Groton, Guilford, Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk, Stamford, Stonington, Stratford, Waterford, West Haven, Westport, Wethersfield and Wilton.

Six people were infected with West Nile virus last year. Five were hospitalized.

Massachusetts has also seen two cases of West NIle so far this year.

More information about the virus is available on the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program website.

Photos showing a rainbow appearing to originate from the World Trade Center on the eve of Sept. 11 are quickly being shared online as they elicit emotional responses from admirers.

• WATCH LIVE: Memorial Services Mark 9/11 Anniversary 

Ben Sturner, CEO of sports marketing company Leverage Agency, stepped outside onto the terrace of his apartment in Long Island City, Queens, Thursday morning, part of his daily routine to check the weather. He has an unobstructed view of the World Trade Center and the Manhattan skyline from across the East River. 

It was just after 7 a.m., and, "I see this rainbow, and it's coming from the World Trade Center and it's the most gorgeous rainbow I've ever seen," he told NBC 4 New York over the phone. "I took out my phone and started snapping photos." 

He posted them to his social media accounts, convinced others were posting images of the same beautiful scene. But he didn't find any others showing the same angle. 

Once people started noticing his photos online, the responses started pouring in, with many remarking on the timing — a day before the nation would pay tribute to victims of the terror attacks from 14 years ago.

One woman tweeted him, "Best birthday present in 14 years. This picture of hope and renewal that I feel coursing through me and out my fingertips. Thank you." 

One woman commented on the photo as shared on NBC 4 New York's Facebook page: "The message: let this rainbow be a sign of peace, strength and forgiveness. They are all angels, resting in peace. 9/11/01."

Another commenter said: "I'm on the bus and nearly cried when I saw this. Full body goosebumps."

And thousands of others have chimed in, describing the photo as "beautiful," "mysterious" and "incredible."

Sturner, who moved to New York City from North Carolina 12 years ago and wasn't in the city on Sept. 11, said he's touched that so many people have found their own special meaning in what he calls "a magical rainbow." 

"You never know when you see something that could be moving," he said.

"It gives me chills," he said of the reaction. 

What should be a coordinated investigation into the death of a veteran police officer in suburban Fox Lake, has devolved into a bitter dispute over who is authorized to release information in a case where leads appear to be few and far between.

At issue, Lake County Coroner Thomas Rudd’s comments to NBC5 and other media, regarding the wounds suffered by Lt. Joe Gliniewicz, who was shot in a remote field in western Lake County September 1. On Thursday, Rudd told NBC5 that reports in some media that Gliniewicz was shot in the head or neck, were false. And while he continued to decline comment on how many times the officer had been hit, he did say that the fatal wound was a “single devastating shot to the torso.”

Those revelations came on the heels of Rudd’s comments to NBC5 on Wednesday, that he did not have enough information to certify a manner of death in the Gliniewicz investigation.

“I can’t rule out a suicide, I can’t rule out an accident, and I can’t rule in a homicide,” he said. “I can’t issue a manner of death, until law enforcement gives me everything they have.”

Asked if Gliniewicz had been shot at close range or from a distance, the coroner said the autopsy results did not support one answer over the other.

“I can’t tell if he was shot close, or far. I have a suspicion, but I need proof.”

The task force investigating the Lieutenant’s death has balked at releasing even general details about the case. And late Thursday, they issued a blistering statement, blasting Rudd for releasing any information about the ongoing investigation.

“We have not been contacted by or had communication with Doctor Rudd,” Task Force Chief George Filenko said in that statement. “Doctor Rudd, releasing information which is sensitive to this investigation, puts the entire case at risk. All of the progress made since this tragic incident is potentially in jeopardy.”

It didn’t stop there. Raymond Rose, the Lake County undersheriff, called Rudd’s comments about the investigation “outrageous”.

“Doctor Rudd’s actions are completely outside of policy, procedure, protocols, and are completely unprofessional,” he said. “The coroner should not release sensitive case information while an investigation is still underway. It’s completely irresponsible.”

Filenko said at a Thursday evening presser that it wasn't his department's protocol to release information that can jeopardize case.

The information released "could inhibit our investigation down the road," Filenko added.

Gliniewicz was found dead, after radioing dispatch that he was in foot pursuit of three individuals. But he gave only a general description, and nine days after the incident, authorities could point to no major leads in the case.

Ironically, in truth, Rudd deflected most questions about the nature of the officer’s wounds. He declined to answer even the most basic inquiries about how many times the lieutenant had been shot, citing the ongoing investigation. But in the interview with NBC5 on Wednesday, he made clear that if he did not get further information, he might be left no choice but to list Gliniewicz’s manner of death as “undetermined”.

“Based on what is coming from law enforcement, we are pursuing it as a homicide,” he said.“If we are told later that they don’t have evidence of a homicide, then we have to consider the other manners of death, which could be suicide, or accident.”

Iraq and Syria may have been permanently torn asunder by war and sectarian tensions, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency said Thursday in a frank assessment that is at odds with Obama administration policy.

"I'm having a tough time seeing it come back together," Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart told an industry conference, speaking of Iraq and Syria, both of which have seen large chunks territory seized by the Islamic State.

On Iraq, Stewart said he is "wrestling with the idea that the Kurds will come back to a central government of Iraq," suggesting he believed it was unlikely. On Syria, he added: "I can see a time in the future where Syria is fractured into two or three parts."

That is not the U.S. goal, he said, but it's looking increasingly likely.

CIA Director John Brennan, speaking on the same panel at an industry conference, noted that the countries' borders remain in place, but the governments have lost control of them. A self-declared caliphate by the Islamic State straddles the border between both countries.