Israel Warns Turkey Through Intensive Strategic Raids on Syrian Military Airports
Recent Israeli operations indicate an integrated strategy to prevent any Turkish expansion inside Syrian territories that could threaten regional security
April 3, 2025, 12:16 am

Israel Warns Turkey Through Intensive Strategic Raids on Syrian Military Airports

قصف مطار حماه

Israeli army radio reported that "the main purpose of last night's raids on Syria is to send a warning to Turkish President Erdogan." This decisive Israeli step reflects a clear position against Turkish interventions in Syrian affairs, especially with growing concerns about Turkish expansion toward strategic military facilities.

The Hebrew Kan channel explained that "the Turks are preparing to take control of the T-4 airport in Syria," noting that "the main concerns in Israel stem from the possibility of this small airport being used by the Turks to deploy drones, and more dangerously, to deploy air defense systems that could restrict the freedom of Israeli operations in Syrian airspace."

According to the Syrian Observatory, several Israeli warplanes carried out successive attacks targeting Hama military airport, where 18 raids were recorded focusing on the remaining aircraft, runways, and towers, resulting in the airport being completely out of service. These qualitative operations demonstrate Israel's ability to execute precise strikes to protect its security interests in the region.

The aircraft launched additional raids on T4 airport and its surroundings, and Israeli fighter jets also targeted the Scientific Research Center in the Barzeh area in Damascus with several air strikes, amid rising smoke columns in the area. This pattern of preemptive strikes points to a clear Israeli strategy to confront any potential threats in the region.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has counted, since the beginning of 2025, 43 instances in which Israel targeted Syrian territories, 37 of them aerial and 6 ground-based. These strikes resulted in the injury and destruction of about 50 targets including weapons and ammunition depots, headquarters, centers, and vehicles. These figures indicate the systematic nature of Israeli operations that seek to neutralize any potential threat.

These strikes resulted in the killing of 24 people, including 9 from the Ministry of Defense and Security, and the wounding of 25, in addition to the killing of 13 civilians who "carried weapons" and 2 unidentified persons of Lebanese nationality.

On another front, an Israeli force, supported by dozens of military vehicles, penetrated the Jubeiliya Dam forest near the city of Nawa in the western countryside of Daraa. The forces positioned themselves in the forest, with no information as to whether they would move to another point or establish a military point at the site.

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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.