An Israeli drone strike was carried out on the Damascus-Beirut highway on Monday, hitting an SUV and killing prominent Syrian businessman Mohammed Baraa Katerji. It is unconfirmed, but Israeli media reported a Hezbollah commander was also slain in the strike.
Israel did not comment on the attack nor indicate why Katerji would be targeted for killing. Katerji was reportedly sanctioned by the United States for his and his family’s involvement in the Syrian oil industry.
Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, however, accused Katerji of funding Hezbollah to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. They also suggested he had been funding the Iranian Quds Force.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights speculated that Katerji had been involved in the funding of the resistance against Israel in the occupied Golan Heights in the past. He was said to be close to the Assad government.
The attack comes just a day after Israel carried out overnight strikes on Syrian military targets, in retaliation for a pair of drones entering Israeli territory from Syria.
Israel has been carrying out a growing number of strikes along the Syria-Lebanon border, as well as attacks in southern Lebanon. Although some strikes are nominally related to Hezbollah’s presence in the area, others seem to target Syrian military in general.
Does the Likud understand that such escalation is likely to lead to tit-for-tat strikes ? Israelis deserve better.
Well said Peace, as per usual. Cause Peace is beautiful!
Good morning! Any progress Israel? With the suggestions we are offering?… We are all looking forward to some damn peace, ya know?!
Accept our suggestions and I can guarantee results, positively!…….
Guys, Israel does not want peace. It wants a war that they hope will re-establish the military dominance and deterrence that it previously enjoyed. Such an outcome seems like a fantasy given the current circumstances. A real peace that recognizes the legitimate rights and needs of the Palestinian people is not on the table.
A real peace agreement will also recognizes the rights and needs of Israel. Both sides needs to work toward peace. And neither side has been doing that for a long time.
The demise of Israel is in its own hands. No one can save this utter servant to death and destruction at this point. This is their foreign policy/right of passage which will be the death of the state. Population centers better have a backup country and soon.
For 76 years people have been saying that.
..but now the world at large views Israel as a pariah, and genocidal state. It only gets worse from here..
One less bad guy to deal with.