French company supplies PKK/PYD in Afrin with cement for tunnels

As terrorists from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s Syrian offshoot, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), receive arms shipments from the U.S., French cement giant Lafarge continues to supply terrorists in Syria’s northwestern Afrin region with building material for tunnels.

Lafarge, which maintains an operational cement factory in Manbij’s Suaim region, was previously embroiled in a scandal after evidence detailing its dealings with Daesh terrorists were revealed.

Despite the ongoing civil war in Syria, Lafarge’s factory in Manbij has not halted cement production since 2011.

As Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch continues, tunnels built by PKK/PYD terrorists in Afrin using concrete and cement supplied by Lafarge are being used to hinder the ongoing advance of Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and Free Syrian Army (FSA) units towards the city center.

A recently uncovered tunnel network in Afrin was used by the terrorist group as a shelter against jet strikes and other heavy artillery fire amid Turkey’s counterterrorist operations.

The tunnels also linked the so-called terrorist command centers with strategic points and surveillance towers, according to local sources who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns.

On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terrorists from Afrin, northwestern Syria.

The factory, which is located in the Manbij region of Sunaim between the towns of Karakozak and Ayn Eissa, continues its cement production uninterrupted. Firas Talss, the son of Assad’s former defense minister, owns significant shares in the factory, which protected its production line when Daesh controlled the area in return for paying terrorists to ensure it was able to run its operations smoothly.

Lafarge currently supplies PKK/PYD terrorists with cement produced in its factory in Manbij, according to the region’s people who witnessed cement shipments being delivered to PKK/PYD terrorists from the factory.

According to the Turkish General Staff, Operation Olive Branch aims to establish security and stability along Turkey’s borders and the region as well as to protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, it said.

The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and the "utmost care" is being taken to avoid harming civilians.