How Bollywood Music Became a Weapon Against ISIS

British special forces are blaring hit Bollywood songs at Islamic State fighters in an innovative new tactic to unnerve their ultra-conservative enemy.

The U.K.’s new tool in the fight against ISIS is music to the ears—literally.

British special forces are blaring hit Bollywood songs at Islamic State fighters in an innovative new tactic to unnerve their ultra-conservative enemy. The upbeat, dance-inducing music is considered a violation of the Sharia law that Islamic State militants follow and has been strictly banned in the areas they control.

The out-of-the-box idea originated from a Pakistani-born British intelligence officer who, according to The Mirror, thought that Bollywood music would annoy ISIS troops.

In Libya, a training ground for ISIS fighters, local military partnered with the UK’s Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) forces, wiring two empty cars to play Bollywood music at the click of a remote. The music-mobiles were placed outside of Sirte, an 185km area held by ISIS militants for nearly two years. The filmy soundtrack was played at high volume over loudspeakers in an attempt to drive the estimated 4,000 insurgents off the stretch of Libyan coastline—while also appearing as an act of defiance, undermining the militant’s authority over the locals.

The same form of psychological warfare was used when troops intercepted internal ISIS communications, blaring Bollywood music back at them instead.

The way ISIS fighters respond to the musical attacks can also provide key intelligence for observing the UK and Libyan troops. For instance, though ISIS troops may be hiding out in secret when they voice their complaints about the unwanted Bollywood music on the radio, it gives away their location.

“We needed to unnerve militants and at the same time use some sort of passive measure to gauge their force strength in the area we are working and it went well,” an unnamed senior official told The Mirror.

Yet, another example of how Bollywood is a force for good. What songs were played—old, new, classics, or one-hit wonders—has not been disclosed.