Lafarge Faces Trial Over Alleged Terror Financing in Syria Operations

(MENAFN) A major court case is approaching that could decide whether the French industrial company Lafarge can be held criminally liable for allegedly “financing terrorism” through its continued activity in Syria during the early stages of the country’s civil war.

The origins of the case go back to 2008, when the company committed around €680 million (about $792.9 million) to build a cement facility near Jalabiya in northern Syria. The project was part of a broader strategy to expand its footprint in the region.

However, after widespread unrest began in Syria in 2011 and gradually escalated into a full-scale war, most international firms exited the country. Lafarge, however, chose to remain in place.

By 2012, it had become the only major French business still operating inside Syria.

The situation deteriorated further by mid-2014, when the ISIS (Daesh) group announced the establishment of a “caliphate,” marking a significant escalation in the conflict.

Shortly afterward, on Aug. 15, 2014, the UN Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 2170, which explicitly condemned any direct or indirect economic dealings with ISIS (Daesh) and Jabhat al-Nusra. The measure urged all member states to block financial channels, including payments, oil-related transactions, and any commercial activity that could benefit such groups.

This was reinforced in September 2014 through Resolution 2178, which expanded international obligations aimed at preventing terrorism financing, including through private-sector operations and cross-border trade networks.

Despite these measures, investigators allege that activity at the facility later resumed following the establishment of new arrangements.

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