Syrian Businessman Sanctioned by U.S. Over ISIS Links Killed in Alleged Israeli Airstrike

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An alleged Israeli airstrike on a highway linking Syria to Lebanon on July 15 killed Muhammad Baraa al-Katerji, a close business associate of Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad. Katerji was involved in smuggling arms and drugs, including transferring hundreds of millions of dollars to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah, and other members of the Iran-led Axis of Resistance, the Israeli outlet Kan News reported. The U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Katerji in 2018 for facilitating “fuel trade between the [Syrian] regime and ISIS, including providing oil products to ISIS-controlled territory.” Additionally, Treasury said Katerji assisted in “transported weapons and ammunition under the pretext of importing and exporting food.”

Expert Analysis

“Israeli airstrikes in Syria usually hit shipments of weapons bound for Hezbollah or facilities that could be used to support attacks on Israel. In the rare instances where the strikes target individuals, they tend to be senior Iranian military officers, not financiers like Katerji who are part of Assad’s inner circle. For now, it remains unclear why Israel took this unusual action and whether it was sending a message to Assad about the dangers of working with Iran.” — David Adesnik, FDD Senior Fellow and Director of Research

“Given Katerji’s history, it is difficult to ignore that he may have been involved in supporting the war efforts of Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations. As Israel has targeted enemy fighters on the battlefield engaged in harming the Jewish state, Jerusalem has also acted against those who finance its enemies and provide them with weapons.” — Joe Truzman, Senior Research Analyst at FDD’s Long War Journal

Israel Strikes Syrian Army Position Used by Hezbollah Terrorists

In April, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a precision strike in southern Syria against a Syrian army position used by Hezbollah. “The IDF holds the Syrian regime accountable for all activities which take place within its territory and will not allow for any attempted actions which could lead to the entrenchment of Hezbollah on the Syrian front,” the IDF noted in a statement.

Over the past decade, Iran and its proxy terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, have gained a significant foothold in Syria as the country has been ravaged by civil war. Israel launched a strike against Iran-linked groups in late March, according to reports. On March 12, the IDF targeted several Syrian army sites where Hezbollah was deployed. This move followed an Israeli strike on Syrian targets in December, which was prompted by rocket attacks from Syria against Israel.

Related Analysis

“Alleged Israeli Airstrike Kills Iranian Military Advisor in Syria,” FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Strikes Syrian Army Position Used by Hezbollah Terrorists,” FDD Flash Brief

“Senior IRGC Leader Killed in Damascus Air Strike,” FDD Flash Brief