Increasing Escalation Between Houthis and Israel
December 31, 2024, 10:22 am

Increasing Escalation Between Houthis and Israel

تصعيد مستمر بين الحوثي وإسرائيل

The region is witnessing ongoing escalation between the Houthi movement and Israel, as the Houthis announced today, Tuesday, their responsibility for carrying out two missile attacks on Israel during the night. They also reported directing cruise missiles and drones toward the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman.

The Houthi statement clarified that they carried out two qualitative military operations, targeting areas in Jaffa and southern Jerusalem with two missiles, one of which targeted Ben Gurion Airport using a Palestinian-2 ballistic missile. The statement noted that "the joint operation was carried out with a large number of drones and missiles while U.S. forces were preparing to launch an air assault on Yemen."

Earlier on Tuesday, the Israeli army announced that it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen before it entered its airspace. The "Magen David Adom" ambulance service reported no injuries as of now. It is worth mentioning that Israel intercepted a similar missile last Saturday.

In a related context, correspondents for "Al Arabiya" and "Al Hadath" reported that the Houthis launched two ballistic missiles toward central Israel, triggering air raid sirens in several areas. Fragments of missiles were reported to have fallen in "Haroesh" and Beit Shemesh near Jerusalem.

At the same time, U.S. and British aircraft carried out airstrikes on Houthi positions in Al Hudaydah, targeting the sites from which the missiles were launched in the Al-Tuhayta district. The planes continued to fly and directed additional strikes on areas from which the Houthis launched missiles toward the sea.

For its part, Russia criticized the air strikes conducted by Israel and the international coalition in Yemen. Moscow's permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, noted that U.S.-led military operations increase escalation and result in civilian casualties.

The U.S. National Security Advisor called on the Houthis to stop their "destabilizing" practices in the region as tensions continue with Israel. In response, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, warned the Houthis against endangering Israel's security, emphasizing that they should remember what happened to Hamas and Hezbollah.

On another front, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for Middle East Affairs, Khaled Kheyari, condemned the ongoing escalation between the conflicting parties in Israel, Yemen, and the Red Sea, considering it a threat to stability.

This escalation follows Israeli airstrikes on Houthi sites in Yemen, which has been under Houthi control since 2014 after they seized Sana'a and toppled the government. The frequency of Houthi attacks has increased since the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah last November.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.