Israel and the United States are responsible for creating the Islamic State phenomenon, former Cuban president Fidel Castro is quoted as saying on Wednesday.
Writing for official Cuban state media, Castro alleged that Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, and US Senator John McCain conspired to create the Islamic State.
The remarks were reported and translated into English by the Russia Today news agency.
Castro's column takes aim at the West, particularly NATO for its attitude toward Russia as the Ukraine crisis unfolds.
“Many people are astonished when they hear the statements made by some European spokesmen for NATO when they speak with the style and face of the Nazi SS,” Castro wrote.
“Adolf Hitler’s greed-based empire went down in history with no more glory than the encouragement provided to NATO’s aggressive and bourgeois governments, which makes them the laughing stock of Europe and the world.”
The 88-year-old former ruler also attacked McCain, Israel's "most unconditional ally."
Castro alleged that McCain, “together with [Mossad, conspired] in the creation of the Islamic State, which today controls a considerable and vital portion of Iraq and reportedly one-third of Syria as well.”
