Israeli military incursion beyond the buffer zone in Syria
The escalation of clashes between local residents and Israeli forces indicates the growing state of direct confrontation in southern Syria
April 6, 2025, 7:56 pm

Israeli military incursion beyond the buffer zone in Syria

ضحايا جراء توغل إسرائيلي في قرية كويا جنوب سوريا

The American newspaper The Wall Street Journal revealed on Sunday that the Israeli army had breached the borders of the buffer zone in southwestern Syria clarifying that it had detained Syrian citizens under the pretext of their involvement in terrorist activities.

The newspaper quoted residents of Hameidiyah village in the occupied Syrian Golan saying Israel has established a buffer zone on our lands and prevented us from entering it and they added that the Israeli forces are advancing beyond the buffer zone in southwestern Syria.

The Wall Street Journal also quoted a statement from an Israeli officer saying that Israeli forces had detained Syrians suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.

Israel has modified the status of the buffer zone with Syria taking advantage of the developments that took place on the Syrian scene after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime on December 8 2024.

Israeli forces stormed the buffer zone in the occupied Syrian Golan which the United Nations considered a violation of the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and Israel has also declared its intention to maintain control over this area representing a direct challenge to international resolutions concerning the region.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Israel will continue to control the buffer zone until a Syrian force capable of implementing the 1974 Disengagement Agreement is formed.

This change has affected the stability of the region where the southern part of Syria including Daraa and Quneitra has witnessed tensions and clashes between the local population and Israeli forces.

At dawn on Thursday nine civilians were killed and others injured as a result of Israeli forces targeting the Harsh al-Jubailiyah area located between Nawa city and Tasil town west of Daraa.

The province indicated that there is a state of alert and great public anger in the region following these attacks especially in light of the Israeli forces advancing for the first time to this depth these developments increase the likelihood of direct confrontations between local residents and Israeli forces.

Earlier the newspaper mentioned that the people in Daraa province in southern Syria clashed with Israeli forces near al-Jubailiyah Dam.

The Israeli move comes after airstrikes carried out by Israeli warplanes on the airports of Homs and Hama and the research center in Damascus this simultaneous escalation indicates an integrated Israeli strategy to exert pressure on various regions in Syria amid the changing political circumstances.

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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.