Contents of French Lafarge factory in Kobani countryside stolen 

Sources reported that the Turkish-backed mercenaries “Amshat” and “Hamzat,” operating under the Ministry of Defense of the Syrian Interim Government, dismantled and looted the contents of the “Lafarge” cement factory in Jalabiya, in the rural area of Kobani.

The Lafarge plant, located near Jalabiya, has been one of the most significant industrial sites in northern Syria since the beginning of the revolution in 2011. It continued operations after opening in 2010, prior to the outbreak of war, but has changed hands several times over the years due to security developments and ongoing military conflict.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) stated that such incidents raise growing questions about accountability and oversight mechanisms, amid local demands to halt violations, protect public and private property, and prevent the recurrence of actions that negatively impact social and economic stability in the region.

During the escalation of the conflict, the Lafarge factory was at times subject to influence and negotiations with various armed parties before ISIS took control of it in 2014. The company faced accusations of paying funds to armed groups to ensure the continuation of its operations regardless of the prevailing security conditions at the time.

In March 2015, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the liberation of the factory and its surroundings from ISIS, with support from the international coalition, following several battles in the area. However, the coalition later withdrew its forces from the region, paving the way for Turkish-backed mercenaries to take control of the situation in the Kobani countryside last month, marking yet another shift in the site’s control.

The most recent looting occurred amid local tensions over the management of industrial resources in the region, with concerns about repeated violations of public and private property in the absence of clear legal protection mechanisms.

A-H

ANHA