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Israel on the Edge: Study of Striking Nuclear Iran Between Feasibility and Risks
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Israeli air maneuvers reveal increasing readiness to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, raising fears of dangerous regional escalation that could lead to a full-scale war in the Middle East

Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, press reports have revealed that the Israeli Air Force conducted extensive air maneuvers over the Mediterranean Sea two years ago.
These exercises, publicly announced by the Israeli Defense Forces, aimed to simulate a potential strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, sparking widespread debate about the feasibility and consequences of such military action.
According to The New York Times, these maneuvers were not just a show of force against Iran, but also a message to President Joe Biden's administration. Israel demonstrated its readiness to act unilaterally, despite recognizing that the chances of success would be much higher with U.S. participation, especially given Washington's arsenal of "bunker-buster missiles."
However, doubts linger about Israel's ability to inflict significant damage on Iranian nuclear facilities alone. In private interviews, top Israeli officials acknowledged major challenges to the success of such an operation. This has led Pentagon officials to question whether Israel is actually preparing for a unilateral strike, particularly under current circumstances that may not recur.
On the other hand, President Biden warned Israel against striking Iranian nuclear or energy sites, emphasizing that any response should be "proportionate" to Iran's recent attack on Israel. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin also stressed to his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, Washington's desire to avoid retaliatory steps that could lead to new escalation by Iran.
Estimates suggest that Israel might focus its initial response on targeting Iranian military bases and intelligence sites, postponing strikes on nuclear facilities to a later stage if Iran escalates its counterattacks. Nevertheless, voices within Israel, and even in the United States, are increasingly calling for seizing the current opportunity to delay Iran's nuclear capability for years.
In this context, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett wrote, calling for action now "to destroy Iran's nuclear program, central energy facilities, and fatally paralyze this terrorist regime." This hardline stance has elicited mixed reactions, with U.S. officials viewing such strikes as potentially ineffective and possibly pushing the region towards full-scale war.
The issue of striking Iran has become central in U.S. election campaigns, with former President Donald Trump claiming that Israel should "strike the nuclear [facilities] first and then worry about the rest later," a approach that contradicts his policy when in the White House.
This heated debate raises fundamental questions about Israel's actual ability to hinder Iran's nuclear program, and whether the result would merely push this program into greater secrecy and underground depth. It also raises serious questions about the possibility that an Israeli strike could push the Iranian leadership to make a decisive decision to race towards possessing a nuclear bomb, a red line Iran has not crossed for nearly a quarter of a century.
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
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.
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