Turkish-backed factions withdraw from northeastern Syria
It appears that fear of accountability for past violations is pushing faction members to flee, highlighting the scale of crimes committed by these groups against civilians and fighters
April 10, 2025, 7:17 pm

Turkish-backed factions withdraw from northeastern Syria

الجيش الوطني السوري \ تعبيرية \ متداول

Observers from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that successive groups from the factions of "Ahrar al-Sharqiya," "Hamzat," "Sultan Murad," and "Malik Shah" left Ras al-Ain in the countryside of Hasakah aboard buses, heading toward Tell Abyad and then into Turkish territory.

These sudden movements reveal internal instability within these militias, long accused of systematic abuses against civilians in their areas of control, including looting, extortion, and imposing levies.

The buses are transporting fighters from both the first and second ranks of these military formations, with uncertainty surrounding the real motives behind these urgent relocations and their final destination, which remains unknown.

These rapid withdrawals highlight a crisis of trust between these factions and their Turkish backers, suggesting fundamental shifts in Turkey's policy toward its military proxies in northern Syria.

Simultaneously, Tell Abyad is witnessing continuous withdrawals of "Syrian National Army" members along with their families toward Turkish territory, with no clear reasons disclosed.

What raises further questions is the timing of these withdrawals, especially amid reports of regional negotiations happening behind closed doors, which might lead to a redrawing of influence zones in northern Syria.

According to information obtained by the Syrian Observatory, a segment of these fighters is heading towards SDF-controlled areas before moving on to their original hometowns.

This behavior reflects the failure of the "Syrian National Army" project in establishing a cohesive military force, as its factions have turned into opportunistic groups acting based on narrow self-interests, causing them to lose credibility among the local population.

Yesterday, Syrian Observatory monitors reported that 14 officials and members of Turkish-backed armed factions left the "Peace Spring" zone in northern Syria, heading to their hometowns inside Syria through Turkish territory.

These consecutive developments confirm the existence of deep fractures within these militias, which have relied on external support while lacking a clear national vision beyond submission to regional agendas.

According to sources, these commanders and fighters were fearful of entering SDF-controlled areas due to their involvement in previous violations, including the killing of several SDF members in the region.

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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.