When the Syrian rebels and activists are rendered as gunmen

Notice that Syrian rebels are always referred to as "rebels" or "activists" unless they engage in murder, torture, and kidnapping, then they become anonymous unlabeled "gunmen":  "Gunmen in Syria released three Red Cross staffers and a Red Crescent volunteer who had been kidnapped in ­rebel-held territory, the international agency said Monday."  As if there is a mystery about the identity of the gunmen.