US Imposes Sanctions on Al-Qatirji Company Associates
The US Treasury Department has announced new sanctions targeting a network of companies, individuals, and vessels associated with the Syrian Al-Qatirji Company. This action, taken on November 14, 2024, is part of ongoing efforts to disrupt financial channels that support Iranian military activities and the Houthi group in Yemen. The sanctions specifically affect approximately 26 entities linked to Al-Qatirji, which has been accused of generating significant revenue for the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard through the sale of Iranian oil to Syria and China.
The Treasury Department's statement highlights the Al-Qatirji Company's longstanding role in facilitating fuel trade between the Syrian government and the Islamic State (ISIS), further complicating the geopolitical landscape in the region. US Treasury official Bradley Smith emphasized that Iran is increasingly relying on key partners like Al-Qatirji to fund its destabilizing operations across the Middle East.
In a related incident, Baraa Qaterji, a prominent businessman with close ties to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was reportedly killed in an airstrike in July 2024. Qaterji had been previously sanctioned by the US in 2018 for his involvement in illegal fuel trade activities that benefitted both the Assad regime and ISIS.
