Part 16
Author: Ehsan Arab
A Battlefield for Western Weaponry
At first glance, the infamous group known as ISIS may appear to be nothing more than an extremist and tyrannical organization, whose barbaric actions have severely tarnished the image of Islam while causing the deaths and displacement of hundreds of thousands across Syria, Iraq, and various other Muslim nations.
However, a deeper and more critical examination of this malignant phenomenon reveals disturbing realities—namely, the deliberate and strategic involvement of global powers, particularly Western nations, in the creation, empowerment, and utilization of ISIS as a geopolitical tool.
One of the West’s covert objectives appears to have been the use of ISIS as a proxy for indirect warfare. Ideologically rooted in the historical Khawarij, ISIS became a practical battlefield where advanced Western weaponry—including precision-guided missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), electronic warfare systems, and even experimental prototypes—was deployed and tested in real combat scenarios.
In essence, ISIS served as a live testing ground for advanced military hardware—an environment where even prohibited weapons were deployed with impunity. Global silence prevailed, largely due to the West’s orchestrated media campaign that so demonized ISIS that the international community might have tolerated even the use of a nuclear weapon against them.
Certainly, no laboratory can emulate a genuine battlefield for military industries. While a missile’s accuracy or range can be gauged in a controlled setting, only in an actual combat zone can its efficacy under duress, extreme conditions, or against a mobile adversary be truly evaluated.
Under the deceptive guise of combating terrorism, the West dispatched its forces to the territories of Syria and Iraq, frequently executing operations without coordination with the legitimate authorities. These operations frequently involved weapons that had never been officially used in prior wars—raising questions about the true intent behind these missions.
The West, thus, not only tested its arsenal but simultaneously conducted a global publicity campaign showcasing the power, precision, and technological advancement of its military hardware.
Indeed, ISIS became a convenient justification—not only for weapons testing but also for demonstrating and marketing Western military power through extensive media coverage.
A particularly striking example is the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb—known as the “Mother of All Bombs” (MOAB)—in Afghanistan is another clear example, where ISIS served as a pretext for this criminal act. On April 13, 2017, the U.S. military dropped this 10-ton bomb on a mountainous region in the Achin district of Nangarhar Province, claiming it was targeting ISIS hideouts. Beyond the military justification, the act functioned as a bold demonstration of force and innovation—an open field test for a weapon never before used in combat.
It is no secret that the global arms trade ranks among the most profitable industries in the world. For weapons manufacturers to secure large contracts, they must not only develop powerful tools but also convincingly demonstrate their effectiveness.
The conflict involving ISIS provided an unprecedented opportunity for American, British, French, and even Israeli defense firms to showcase their products as superior and “unrivaled” solutions.
The so-called war on ISIS provided a timely and profitable opportunity for American, British, French, and Zionist arms companies to showcase their wares to the global market—under real combat conditions and with live data to support their claims.
Following each Western operation against ISIS, high-resolution footage, detailed imagery, and promotional reports were widely circulated—displaying drone strikes, guided bombs, and next-generation combat equipment. These served as promotional material for potential buyers—governments and military institutions around the world.
Yet, the heaviest toll was borne by the nations themselves—particularly Muslim nations. ISIS, though rooted in these regions, rapidly metastasized due to international intelligence support, covert geopolitical strategies, and destructive interventionist policies. In its wake, it left scorched hospitals, demolished mosques, obliterated schools, destroyed historical sites, and the shattered lives of innocent civilians.
In conclusion, ISIS was never merely an extremist outfit. It functioned as a vehicle for the West’s weapons experimentation, a conduit for expanding political influence, and a commercial opportunity to enhance arms sales—all at the tragic expense of the Muslim world.
