Israeli Forces Strengthen Presence in Southern Syria... Reconnaissance Operations in "Yarmouk Basin"
Recent field developments indicate the importance of strategic dialogue between regional and international powers to ensure regional stability and prevent weapons from falling into irresponsible hands
March 23, 2025, 5:54 pm

Israeli Forces Strengthen Presence in Southern Syria... Reconnaissance Operations in

التوغل الإسرائيلي في القنيطرة - رويترز

Israeli forces have resumed their activities in the southern Syrian region, re-entering the Yarmouk Basin area in the western part of Daraa governorate late Friday night into Saturday.

The "Daraa 24" media network reported Saturday morning that a group from the Israeli army, including several vehicles and machinery, "entered the northern side of the Mariya village within the Yarmouk Basin area."

The network indicated that Israeli forces "present at the Al-Jazeera military barracks on the outskirts of the village launched flares across the area's sky."

This coincided with the presence of Israeli reconnaissance aircraft over the Yarmouk Basin and several other areas in Daraa and Quneitra, with the flights continuing for more than an hour.

This occurs as the Israeli army announced on Friday that it had targeted two military bases in central Syria. The army statement said, "Israeli forces recently struck remaining strategic military capabilities at the Syrian military bases in Palmyra and T4," with the latter located approximately 50 kilometers west of Palmyra.

Since Bashar al-Assad's flight on December 8, Israel has launched dozens of airstrikes on military facilities belonging to the former regime in Syria. Israel maintains that it seeks to prevent the former army's weapons stockpile from transferring to the new administration.

Israeli forces have also positioned themselves in the demilitarized zone between the Israeli and Syrian sides in the Golan Heights, operating from the part of the plateau that Israel annexed in 1967 and formalized in 1981.

On February 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that southern Syria be made "demilitarized," noting that his state would not accept the presence of forces from the new Syrian government south of Damascus.

The Foreign Ministry of the Syrian interim caretaker government condemned on Tuesday the Israeli raids that targeted Daraa governorate (south) the previous day, considering them an "aggressive" act targeting Syria's "stability."

The ministry stated that "these deliberate attacks, carried out without any justification, reveal Israel's complete disregard for international laws and customs, under pretexts that no longer have any credibility."

Central Bank Raises the Syrian Lira Against the Dollar Turkish Authorities Remove Imamoglu from Office... Widespread Protests

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.