Security Campaign in Homs Countryside: Increasing Tensions on the Border with Lebanon
January 22, 2025, 12:59 pm

Security Campaign in Homs Countryside: Increasing Tensions on the Border with Lebanon

جهاز الأمن العام

The Operations Administration launched a security campaign in the western countryside of Homs, near the border with Lebanon, where security forces raided the village of Al-Rabwa, known as Dlabouz, amid reports of arrests targeting citizens and residents in the area.

This campaign comes amid ongoing security activities in Homs Province, coinciding with a rise in security violations, smuggling across the Lebanese-Syrian border, as well as an increase in incidents of murder, theft, and clashes involving light and medium weapons.

Yesterday, the Operations Administration released the majority of those detained from the town of Al-Ghor Al-Gharbi in the northwestern countryside of Homs, one hour after their arrest during operations focused on confiscating weapons and capturing wanted individuals.

Details indicate that security forces backed by tanks and armored vehicles entered the town of Al-Ghor Al-Gharbi, which has a Shiite majority, to conduct a search campaign for weapons and wanted individuals. Residents praised the ethics and treatment of the security forces' personnel; however, local armed groups exploited the operation to carry out their personal vendettas, resulting in the execution of four civilians with gunshots to the head, as well as the deaths of others accused of engaging with security personnel, despite local sources denying any actual clashes occurred.

It is noteworthy that this operation was part of the efforts of the Operations Administration to pursue remnants of the previous regime and to apprehend wanted individuals and smugglers to restore security in the border area.

Nevertheless, the search operations and arrests have been accompanied by violations including physical and verbal assaults against civilians, increasing the state of fear among residents, particularly women and children.

On January 16, armed groups, identifying themselves as linked to the Operations Administration, stormed the villages of Jbourin and Qunait Al-Asi in the Homs countryside, instilling terror in the hearts of residents and arresting dozens of civilians and former military personnel who had undergone settlements, taking them to unknown locations near the Orontes River, raising fears about the outcomes of these arrests and their uncertain fate.

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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.