Arabic version: الولايات المتحدة وإسرائيل تصفان الصراع مع إيران كحرب دينية
As conflict in the Middle East enters its fifth day on Wednesday, American and Israeli officials are pushing rhetoric suggesting that the campaign against Iran is a religious war. According to Al Jazeera, this rhetoric has drawn criticism from Muslim civil rights organizations, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which labeled the language used by the Pentagon as “dangerous” and “anti-Muslim”.
The United States and Israel began their attack on Iran on Saturday and have continued to carry out strikes on Iran since then, which have included retaliatory strikes from Iran against various U.S. military assets in the region. Reports from a U.S. watchdog indicate that troops have been told the conflict is part of a divine plan, with references to biblical end times and Armageddon being made by military leaders. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also described Iran’s leadership as “religious fanatic lunatics”.
Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) has documented complaints from service members who were instructed that the war with Iran aligns with biblical prophecies. An email from a noncommissioned officer stated that a commander encouraged troops to view their actions as fulfilling God’s plan, invoking the Book of Revelation.
Public statements from U.S. and Israeli leaders reflect this religious framing. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently drew parallels between Iran and the biblical Amalekites, who are traditionally seen as embodiments of evil in Jewish history. This rhetoric has provoked strong responses from CAIR, which condemned the use of biblical narratives to justify military actions.
Experts suggest that framing the conflict in religious terms serves multiple purposes, including domestic mobilization and creating a clear moral dichotomy. Jolyon Mitchell, a professor at Durham University, noted that leaders on both sides often enlist God in their narratives to justify violence. Ibrahim Abusharif, an associate professor at Northwestern University, explained that such language simplifies complex geopolitical issues into a narrative of good versus evil, making it easier for the public to understand and support military actions.
The use of religious rhetoric by U.S. and Israeli officials is not new; similar language has been employed historically during conflicts. The implications of this framing could complicate future peace efforts, as it fosters an environment of demonization and dehumanization of the opposing side.
