The zealots’ means to an end is no different than the business minded neoliberals and the overtly genocidal neoconservatives. So really, as long as the latter two have an interest in the Middle East, it doesn’t matter.

I’m sure there are more concrete examples of religious zealotry being the main force behind a campaign, but more often than not it correlates with motives that are grounded.

Or maybe you can take the reverse stance and say the materialist motives are coincidental to the dominions running the show 👁️