Daesh Made Out Of US Plan: Expert

London, Sept 16, IRNA – An academic expert on Middle East affairs believes the terrorist group Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as Daesh) and other extremist groups are the product of an American plan created with the cooperation of certain Western and regional countries such as the Saudi Arabia. In an interview with IRNA in London, Mohammad Haydar observed that previously these countries including Qatar had a major role in creation of al-Qaeda in Afghanistan to counter the invasion of the Soviet Union. "Daesh and other takfiri groups were initially supported by the US, its Western allies and countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar to fight against Syria which was a pioneering country in the anti-Israel resistance front," he said. Extensive financial and military support, and media spinning were used by the supporters of these terrorist groups, he added. "According to some estimates, Saudi Arabia and its allies have so far spent 40 billion dollars to create and strengthen terrorist groups, including Daesh, to overthrow the government in Syria, counter the Iraqi government, fight against Hezbollah and undermine Shiites in the region." Haydar warned that disintegration of the countries in the region such as Iraq and Syria and plundering their oil resources have been the targets followed by the states supporting Daesh and the like. He referred to the declining sovereignty in Iraq, Syria and Libya over their oil resources following the activities of armed terrorist groups such as Daesh and said, "Daesh is selling Iraqi and Syrian oil for 22 dollars per barrel to Turkey and Jordan which are allies of the US and West. Similarly, the government in Tripoli practically lacks control over part of Libya's national wealth." The expert continued saying that formation of small-size extremist groups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to substitute a powerful group such as al-Qaeda can be analyzed within new strategy of the western countries. "Despite being dispersed geographically, these groups act more or less similarly in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, Mali and Libya. The objective of all of them is to loot the resources, combat anti-Zionist and anti-US resistance groups, counter Shiite thoughts, and the moderate and intellectual Sunnis." As earlier US intentions to destroy al-Qaeda have been under question, he added, the seemingly challenging statements by the US and its allies in the region against Daesh in recent weeks are suspected. "At present, the maximum Americans and their allies will do is to reduce the power of Daesh and other extremist groups as was the case with al-Qaeda when Russian troops withdrew from Afghanistan and Taliban with anti-Western activities came to power." Raising doubts over how Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait as prime supporters of Daesh will be fighting against it, Hyadar said, "The biggest issue and problem of the Islamic countires is lack of powerful leaders and appropriate political, economic and social models." He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran is an exception in the Islamic World which enjoys a powerful leadership and a successful economic and political model. "To fight against the Daesh terrorist group, assistance of the Islamic Republic of Iran should be sought," he urged./end