Against Hezbollah.. "Fourth Division" Takes Measures to Avoid Tel Aviv's Anger
Prohibiting the hosting of Hezbollah elements and Iranian militias reflects the Syrian regime's confusion in managing its relationships with allies, and its effort to avoid direct confrontation with I
October 13, 2024, 10:07 pm

الفرقة الرابعة

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights revealed a series of precautionary measures taken by the Fourth Division, led by Major General Maher al-Assad, brother of Syrian regime president Bashar al-Assad, in a clear attempt to avoid repeated Israeli strikes, reflecting a state of confusion and weakness within the Syrian regime.

Observatory sources explained that the Division's leadership issued strict orders banning the transfer of weapons or hosting elements from Lebanese Hezbollah and Iranian militias inside its headquarters and bases. This highlights the confusion in Syrian regime policies and its frantic pursuit to avoid any provocation to Israel, even if at the expense of its relations with regional allies.

In a move reflecting further retreat, the Fourth Division prevented its forces deployed in Syrian areas from targeting the American or Israeli presence in the Golan. This decision comes in the wake of an Israeli targeting of a villa belonging to the Division near the town of Yaafour in rural Damascus at the end of last September, confirming the fragility of the regime's position and its inability to respond to Israeli aggressions.

The Fourth Division forces are distributed in the governorates of Damascus and its countryside, with a presence in Idlib and points in Deir ez-Zor. This wide spread makes it a potential target for Israeli strikes, which prompted it to take these defensive measures.

In a related context, the Syrian Observatory monitored intensive Israeli military movements near the border strip between Quneitra governorate and the Syrian Golan. These movements consisted of a large number of Israeli tanks and military vehicles stationed in the Golan Heights, in an explicit threat to the forces present on Syrian territory.

In a notable development, Israel has begun opening corridors in the Syrian Golan and detonating minefields along the ceasefire line several times over the past months, coinciding with the escalation of Israeli targeting, indicating Tel Aviv's determination to impose a new reality in the region.

Analysts view these developments as revealing the Syrian regime's inability to protect its territories and allies, highlighting the erosion of its ability to maneuver in the regional conflict, and confirming the deterioration of its influence in sensitive border areas, which may open the door to more foreign interventions in Syrian affairs.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”