An Israeli drone strike near the Lebanon-Syria border resulted in the death of Mohammed Baraa Katerji, a prominent Syrian businessman with close ties to the government of President Bashar Assad. The strike targeted Katerji's car in the area of Saboura, inside Syria, following his apparent crossing from Lebanon. This incident is notable as Israel typically focuses its airstrikes on Iran-backed groups and Syrian military targets, rather than individuals within the government.
Katerji, who was 48 years old, was reportedly killed instantly while in his SUV on the highway connecting Lebanon and Syria. He was known for funding the 'Syrian resistance' against Israel in the Golan Heights and had connections to Iran-backed groups in Syria. The U.S. Department of the Treasury had sanctioned Katerji in 2018 for his role as Assad's intermediary in trading oil with the Islamic State group and facilitating weapons shipments from Iraq to Syria.
The Katerji Company, owned by Mohammed and his brother Hussam, was involved in import-export activities in Syria, including transporting weapons and ammunition under the guise of food shipments. The company was also identified as the exclusive agent for supplying IS-controlled areas with oil and other commodities in a 2016 trade deal between Syria and IS. Hussam Katerji, a former member of Syria's parliament, was also part of the oil business venture.
Israel's airstrikes in Syria have been ongoing, aimed at preventing Iranian entrenchment in the region. The recent strike on Katerji underscores the complex dynamics at play in the conflict-ridden area. The U.S. Treasury confirmed that the sanctions against Katerji were still in effect at the time of his death, highlighting the international implications of his activities.
