Western intelligence used a factory accused of financing terrorism in Syria as a headquarters

Western intelligence agencies have used a cement factory in Syria, the focus of a French terrorism financing investigation, to gather information on hostages held by the Islamic State group, according to a Jordanian intelligence officer involved in the espionage effort.

The officer explained to the British newspaper "The Guardian" that the Lafarge factory, which continued to operate after the organization's invasion of eastern Syria, was the focus of a failed attempt to rescue up to 30 hostages.

Among those detained by the organization were American journalist James Foley, British photographer John Cantlie, and Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh, two of whom were later confirmed killed.

The French judiciary had ruled, this week, that Lafarge could be investigated again over allegations of complicity in crimes against humanity due to its dealings in Syria, after a previous judicial decision spared the company the investigation.

In the lawsuit that opened in 2017, it is suspected that the Lafarge SA group paid in 2013 and 2014 through its branch in Syria, “Lafarge Cement Syria,” about 13 million euros to jihadist groups, including ISIS, and to intermediaries to ensure the continuation of its branch work in light of the war. existing in this country.

The newspaper said that the role of the Jordanian intelligence officer could also raise questions about the influence of the intelligence services on the sensitive business decisions of major companies, and about any undisclosed role of the French government in maintaining the operation of the plant.

The newspaper quoted what it described as the senior intelligence source as saying, "The decision is bigger than Lafarge," and that the case before the court does not reveal all sides of the story.

The newspaper said the top French officials did not face public scrutiny and were not identified in a report later ordered by LafargeHolcim and prepared by law firm Baker McKenzie.

According to the newspaper, the Jordanian officer, Ahmed al-Juludi, regularly traveled between the factory and Amman to brief regional and global intelligence leaders on the alleged whereabouts of the hostages, and at one point tracked them to an oil factory near the eastern city of Raqqa.

Al-Juloudi, whose ostensible job was Lafarge's senior risk manager, also traveled to Raqqa to deal with a top ISIS leader in an effort to secure the release of the Jordanian pilot whose F-16 fighter jet crashed near Raqqa.

Al-Juloudi, a veteran officer in Jordan's General Intelligence Directorate, who spoke to the newspaper this month, confirmed that he was very proud of the work he did in trying to secure the release of the hostages, including the Jordanian pilot.

He explained that he had given accurate intelligence that could have led to "rescuing the detainees", without playing any role in the company's business operations.

Intelligence agents in Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and Jordan were aware of the Jordanian spy's work, according to the newspaper.

A second source from within ISIS confirmed to the newspaper that the oil factory was used as a detention center.

A rescue mission began at that time, but the hostages were removed only days before the operation.

An internal report commissioned by LafargeHolcim, which emerged from the 2015 merger of Lafarge France and Switzerland's Holcim, highlighted the transfer of funds from Lafarge's Syrian branch to mediators to negotiate with "armed groups".

However, Lafarge in Syria has always denied any responsibility for this money reaching terrorist organizations.

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