Rhino: Agencies – Prominent pro-regime Syrian businessman Baraa Qaterji was killed in an Israeli airstrike near the Lebanese Syrian border on Monday, three security sources told Reuters.

Qaterji was part of a small circle of businessmen close to the Assad family who rose to prominence during the Syrian civil war that began in 2011 after President Bashar al-Assad’s government cracked down on popular protests.

Together with his brother Hussam, Qaterji has built a business empire linked to oil, logistics, transport and construction.

The brothers and their companies are subject to US sanctions on charges that include facilitating oil shipments and financing for the Syrian regime, according to the US Treasury Department’s website.

Israel has carried out almost daily airstrikes in Syria and Lebanon since the Hamas attack on 7 October.

Other Iranian-backed groups, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Shiite factions in Syria and Iraq, have been launching attacks on Israel since 7 October in what they call a “support front” to deflect Israeli fire from Gaza.