Prominent Syrian businessman Baraa Katerji was killed in an Israeli air strike near the Lebanese-Syrian border, today, Monday, and Al-Qaterji is accused by the Americans of being responsible for transporting oil from eastern Syria.

Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath sources revealed that the Syrian businessman targeted by an Israeli raid was in close contact with the Quds Force, and helped finance the Quds Force and Hezbollah.

Al-Qaterji Company, which has been affected by US sanctions in recent years, is multi-tasking, and was previously accused of mediation work between the Syrian government and ISIS, before it was included in US sanctions.

Transporting oil from ISIS areas

The US-sanctioned Al-Qaterji Company transported crude oil from some fields controlled by ISIS in Deir ez-Zor Governorate to the Syrian government’s warehouses in 2016.

While Hossam Al-Qaterji, a member of Parliament and brother of Muhammad, whose name was mentioned in US sanctions during the past years, played a key role in mediating with the organization, to transport huge shipments from the Al-Omar oil field, which was controlled by “ISIS”, in Deir ez-Zor.

The American-sanctioned “Al-Qaterji” includes a wide range of commercial activities, and bears the name “Qaterji International Group.”

Great influence

The group’s companies include (White Gold Company), (Qaterji Real Estate Investment Company), (Qaterji Company), (Juzoor) Company, (Golden Gate), and (Arvada Petroleum Company), of which the American sanctioned person, Muhammad Baraa Rushdi Katerji, owns 34% of Its shares, and Hussam bin Ahmed Rushdi Qaterji, who owns 33% of the company’s capital shares, then Ahmed Bashir bin Muhammad Baraa Qaterji, who owns 33% of its shares.

The owners of Al-Qatirji Company are considered among the most prominent businessmen in the Syrian economy, due to the influence granted to them by the government, according to Syrian opposition media sources.

Mediation with ISIS

While independent sources confirmed, in previous times, that the inflation of the wealth gained by the owners of the Al-Qaterji Company resulted from the mediation that was taking place with ISIS to transport and trade wheat and oil.

The American administration accused Al-Qaterji Company of transferring weapons and equipment to the government under the guise of normal commercial work, as a camouflage of the company’s activity through which it achieved huge wealth, according to various reports.