Israeli Army Issues Warning to Residents of Baalbek Southern Lebanon
November 3, 2024, 11:17 am

Israeli Army Issues Warning to Residents of Baalbek Southern Lebanon

إنذار إسرا.ئيلي إلى سكان بعلبك

As Israeli airstrikes continue across various regions in Lebanon, the Israeli army issued a new warning today, Sunday, to the residents of Baalbek in the eastern part of the country.

Spokesman Avichai Adraee posted on X, stating, “To all residents in the Baalbek area, specifically in the buildings indicated on the attached maps and the surrounding structures, you are located near facilities and interests belonging to Hezbollah.” He added that the Israeli army plans to act against these targets in the near future.

He emphasized the need to evacuate these buildings and those nearby immediately, urging residents to stay at least 500 meters away within the next four hours.

Additionally, over 25 explosions were reported in Upper Galilee, northern Israel, according to a correspondent from Al Arabiya/Al Hadath. The report added that a rocket barrage directed at northern Israel reached Ras Naqoura, while other rockets landed in open areas of the occupied Golan Heights.

Since September 23, Israel has intensified its airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut. The Israeli military has also conducted destructive airstrikes on several regions in Lebanon identified as Hezbollah strongholds, announcing the deaths of 440 Hezbollah members, including around 30 leaders.

On September 17 and 18, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah operatives were destroyed, as well as other civilian sectors, notably medical facilities. This was followed by a series of assassinations targeting senior Hezbollah leaders, culminating on September 27 with the assassination of the party's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah.

On October 3, the head of Hezbollah's Executive Council, Hashem Safieddine, was targeted. Information from Al Arabiya/Al Hadath indicated that Safieddine did not die immediately from the Israeli strikes in the suburb where he was sheltering under one of the buildings. However, he succumbed to asphyxiation after surviving for between one and three days alongside seven other party members.

Since October 8, 2023, when Hezbollah engaged in what it termed as the "Support Front" for Gaza, the number of displaced individuals has reached approximately 1.2 million. Meanwhile, at least 1,930 individuals have been killed due to Israeli strikes on Lebanon since September 23, according to an AFP tally based on data from the Ministry of Health, although the actual number is likely higher.

Baalbek, located in the Bekaa Valley and considered a Hezbollah stronghold in eastern Lebanon, as well as the outskirts of the city, have been subjected to repeated Israeli airstrikes since Israel intensified its bombardment of Lebanon on September 23.

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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.