Tragic Loss of Syrian Medical Professionals in Israeli Airstrike
October 9, 2024, 3:42 pm

Tragic Loss of Syrian Medical Professionals in Israeli Airstrike

رهف عبد الرحيم قمحية

The Damascus Health Directorate, affiliated with the Syrian regime, reported the death of Dr. Rahaf Abdul Rahim Qamhiyah following an Israeli airstrike in the Mazzeh area of Damascus, amid information about the death of Dr. Shawqi al-Audi, his wife, and their daughters.

Local media stated that Dr. Shawqi Hussein al-Audi, his wife, and their three daughters were killed in the airstrikes carried out by Israeli aircraft on the residential building where they lived in Mazzeh, Syria.

It was clarified that al-Audi, who hails from the governorate of Ibb, was a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the Syrian Private University. The strike also resulted in the death of Dr. Rahaf Qamhiyah, originally from Homs, who specialized in kidney diseases, along with nine others.

The Yemeni ambassador in Damascus wrote on his account on the platform "X": "The martyrdom of Professor Dr. Shawqi al-Audi, his wife, and their three daughters was a result of the treacherous aggression on the Mazzeh neighborhood. Dr. Shawqi was a distinguished Yemeni scientific figure and a professor in pharmaceutical sciences at the Syrian Private University. May God have mercy on the deceased and their entire family and grant them a place in paradise. Indeed, we belong to God and to Him we shall return."

Over the past years, Israel has targeted various locations across Syria, including military points of the regime's army and other sites related to Iran and its militias. Usually, Israel does not claim responsibility for these operations; however, such bombings often result in civilian casualties.

Washington in Dilemma: Israeli Ambiguity Over Response Plans to Iranian Attack Iranian Revolutionary Guard Denies Speculations About Quds Force Leader Qaani's Health

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”