ISIS in the news: US/Nigeria strike reportedly kills a top ISIS leader in Nigeria; ongoing US-led strikes and regional counterterror ops continue. Leader al-Baghdadi-era? No, ISIS remains active in Syria, Nigeria, DRC. Biog: Islamic State group, ultra-radical jihadist organization split across ISIS/ISWAP variants, proclaimed caliphate 2014.
A French court has found Lafarge, now owned by Holcim, guilty of financing armed groups during the Syrian civil war. The company paid millions to jihadist groups between 2013 and 2014 to keep its factory in northern Syria operational. It has been ordered to pay fines and confiscate assets, and its former CEO has been sentenced to six years in prison. This follows a 2022 US case where Lafarge pleaded guilty to supporting terrorist organizations with a $778 million fine. The court's ruling highlights the company's direct payments to jihadist groups, which helped them control Syrian resources and finance attacks abroad. Lafarge's ongoing legal issues include allegations of crimes against humanity and sanctions breaches.
A joint Nigerian-US operation in the Lake Chad Basin has killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, a senior ISWAP figure tied to ISIS. Nigeria and AFRICOM confirm no US or Nigerian forces were harmed; campaign follows rising militant activity in West Africa.