Israeli Forces Intensify Airstrikes in Southern Beirut Amid Evacuations and Growing Tensions
November 12, 2024, 10:56 am

Israeli Forces Intensify Airstrikes in Southern Beirut Amid Evacuations and Growing Tensions

جنوب لبنان

The Israeli military issued fresh evacuation warnings today, Tuesday, to residents in several areas of southern Beirut, preparing for airstrikes that subsequently hit the region with four bombardments.

According to a correspondent for "Al Arabiya/Al Hadath," the Israeli attacks commenced just one hour after the warnings, targeting neighborhoods including Haret Hreik, Ghobeiry, and Hadath. The report suggested that the strike on the Hadath area likely affected the well-known Haret Hreik.

The southern suburbs typically see a decline in population at night, but during the day they become crowded, likely with displaced individuals returning to retrieve some belongings. The area experienced significant displacement following the latest strikes today.

This escalation followed a warning from the Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson, Avichai Adraee, who posted on X that all residents in the southern suburbs, particularly in specified buildings on attached maps and surrounding structures in the Hadath area, were urged to evacuate.

He also shared maps and images, claiming that these locations were near facilities and interests associated with Hezbollah.

These developments took place as the towns of Naqoura, Jabal Louban, and the outskirts of Al-Ma’shar were subjected to artillery shelling from Israeli naval vessels early in the morning, according to Lebanon’s National News Agency.

Furthermore, all combat fronts in the southern border region ignited with Israeli bombardments, marking the first such attacks in two weeks, impacting sectors in the eastern, central, and western parts of the border area.

The renewed airstrikes follow a brief period of calm, which was preceded by the booby-trapping and demolition of various facilities and buildings. The correspondent for "Al Arabiya/Al Hadath" also reported injuries resulting from drone attacks in the Burka neighborhood of Sidon in southern Lebanon.

In a related announcement, Hezbollah stated on Monday that it had conducted 22 operations against Israel.

The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that the death toll has exceeded 3,200 since October 8, 2023. Sources from "Al Arabiya/Al Hadath" confirmed that a drone had infiltrated from Lebanon toward Nahariya and its surrounding areas, with air raid sirens sounded in the suburbs of Haifa as a precaution against drone incursions.

These developments unfold amidst ongoing international and American efforts to halt the conflict. Nevertheless, new Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reaffirmed that there would be no ceasefire or truce in Lebanon, emphasizing in a tweet today that Israeli forces "will continue to strike Hezbollah with full force until the war's objectives are achieved."

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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.