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Houthi chief vows to intensify attacks on Israel, says airstrikes won’t deter them!

Houthi chief vows to intensify attacks on Israel, says airstrikes won’t deter them
Abdul Malik al-Houthi calls deadly drone attack on Tel Aviv a ‘major psychological blow’ to Israel, commits to stance supporting Palestinians in Gaza
The head of the Houthis in Yemen pledged on Sunday to launch more attacks against Israel, declaring that airstrikes on the port of Hodeida in western Yemen a day before would not deter the the Iran-backed group.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the Israeli strikes, which targeted fuel depots and energy infrastructure at the port, would lead to “further escalation and more attacks targeting Israel.
“Yemeni people are pleased to be in direct confrontation with the Israeli enemy, and they are steadfast and brave people,” he said in a speech, as quoted by Iranian media outlet Press TV.
The head of the Houthis in Yemen pledged on Sunday to launch more attacks against Israel, declaring that airstrikes on the port of Hodeida in western Yemen a day before would not deter the the Iran-backed group.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the Israeli strikes, which targeted fuel depots and energy infrastructure at the port, would lead to “further escalation and more attacks targeting Israel.
“Yemeni people are pleased to be in direct confrontation with the Israeli enemy, and they are steadfast and brave people,” he said in a speech, as quoted by Iranian media outlet Press TV.
Friday’s Houthi drone strike on Tel Aviv, which killed resident Yevgeny Ferder, 50, has changed the rules of engagement and opened “a new phase” in operations against Israel, he said, labeling the attack as “a major psychological blow” to Israel.
“Yemen will not back down from its stance in support of Palestinians,” he said, as quoted by the Mehr news agency. “The Zionists also should know that their foolish leaders have brought them closer to growing dangers.”
The Houthi leader vowed that Yemen will continue attacking Israel in solidarity with the people of Gaza for as long as the war with Hamas in Gaza continues, and said it will “move to a new level of anti-Israel operations” in the immediate future.
“Attacking Yemen does not benefit the enemy, nor will it create deterrence for it,” he added.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree also threatened Israel, saying the rebels’ “response to the Israeli aggression against our country is inevitably coming and will be huge.”
On Sunday, the Israeli military said it intercepted a missile fired from Yemen towards the Red Sea resort town of Eilat, noting that “the projectile did not cross into Israeli territory.” The military is girding for a larger response from the group following the airstrikes.
Saree said the rebels had fired ballistic missiles toward Eilat, the latest in a string of Houthi attempts to hit the resort city.
Another Houthi spokesperson, Mohammed Abdulsalam, told Qatar’s Al Jazeera TV on Sunday that the Houthis will continue to attack Israel and will not abide by any rules of engagement.
Abdulsalam said there would be “no red lines” in the Houthis’ response to Israel. “All sensitive institutions with all… levels will be a target for us,” he said.
Saturday’s strikes destroyed five cranes and reduced the port’s fuel storage capacity from 150,000 tons to 50,000, said the US-based Navanti Group, citing merchants.
According to the Israeli military, the strike on the fuel depot was a major blow to the Houthi economy, and the cranes it took out of service there will prevent the group from bringing in more Iranian weapons via the port that have been used to target Israel, along with commercial and military ships in the Red Sea.
In Hodeida, firefighters still struggled on Sunday to contain the blaze, as thick plumes of smoke hung above the city, an AFP correspondent reported.
Fuel storage tanks and a power plant at the port were still ablaze amid “slow” firefighting efforts, said a port employee.
Strikes carried out by an American-led coalition in Yemen have only targeted Houthi military infrastructure and not sites that are also used by civilians, such as the Hodeida Port, which is also used to bring in humanitarian aid to the war-torn country, in addition to the Iranian weapon shipments.
The IAF believed that the strike would project a message to Israel’s enemies, especially Lebanon’s Hezbollah, that Israel is capable and willing to target dual-use civilian-military infrastructure and carry out what could be considered disproportionate responses to attacks.
According to the Israeli military, Yemen’s Houthis have in the past nine months fired over 220 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones at Israel, the latest on Sunday morning — mostly toward the southernmost city of Eilat — in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, where Israel is battling Hamas terrorists.
The vast majority of the Iran-backed group’s projectiles have been intercepted by US forces stationed in the Red Sea and Israeli air defenses and fighter jets, or have missed their target. Before the attack on Tel Aviv early on Friday, only one Houthi projectile, a cruise missile, had successfully struck Israel, hitting an open area near Eilat in March.
Until Friday’s deadly attack in Tel Aviv, Israel chose not to respond to those attacks, preferring that the US-led coalition continue to strike the Houthis, mostly in response to the Iran-backed group’s attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea.
Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.
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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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