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Increased U.S. Concern: Washington Reviews Its Syria Policy Amid Reservations
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The U.S. administration appears to be reassessing its position on Syria, amid growing concerns over the transitional government's ties and its relationship with regional powers

Since President Donald Trump's return to the White House, the U.S. administration has refrained from making detailed statements regarding its Syria policy. The official stance has been limited to a statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who welcomed an agreement between the "Syrian Interim Government" and the Syrian Democratic Forces aimed at reordering the relationship between these forces and the existing military and political authorities in Syria.
Other statements from the administration have focused on the need to respect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, especially following recent developments in Syria’s coastal region.
Tim Lenderking, acting Assistant Secretary of State, addressed the Middle East Institute, reiterating that the U.S. demands the Syrian government expel all foreign elements working within its security and military apparatuses, though he did not clarify how the administration would deal with this government in the future.
In the absence of a formal U.S. position, informed sources in Washington told U.S. media that White House officials have held consultations with Syrian and international figures to develop a clear policy on Syria.
One participant in these consultations revealed that Trump’s National Security Council team frames the Syrian file within the context of "counterterrorism," expressing deep doubts about Ahmad al-Shar'a, the interim Syrian president, and the composition of the security and military agencies under his leadership.
Estimates within the U.S. administration suggest that al-Shar'a, who heads the "Interim Government," was part of a network that embraces hardline ideologies, with prominent figures in his administration having ties to extremist groups. According to these estimates, Washington struggles to trust a political project run by a group with deep-rooted extremist ideology, even if it appears in a new light.
These doubts align with the Iraqi position, where the Iraqi government informed Washington that it wishes to maintain U.S. presence for counterterrorism efforts, seeing the growing influence of certain extremist groups in Syria as a major concern, making it difficult to predict what might unfold in the next two years.
On another front, U.S. sources indicate an undeclared disagreement between Washington and Ankara regarding Syria. According to leaked information, the U.S. administration believes that Turkey plays a key role in supporting al-Shar'a and his government, exerting significant influence on its policies.
Sebastian Gorka, Director of Counterterrorism Affairs at the National Security Council and a key figure in Trump’s administration, closely monitors the Syrian file. Gorka is known for his tough stance on extremist groups and is believed to influence the U.S. administration's approach to Syria, based on his counterterrorism-focused approach.
In light of these developments, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had a phone conversation with U.S. President Trump on Sunday, during which they discussed the Syrian file. Erdoğan’s office emphasized that Ankara believes "lifting sanctions on Syria could contribute to normalizing the situation and preparing conditions for the return of refugees," stressing the importance of joint action between the two countries in this regard.
Although the White House has not issued an official comment on this call, diplomatic sources suggest that Washington is adopting a cautious approach to the Syrian file, with expectations that the U.S. administration will issue a clearer stance on its strategy in Syria within the next two weeks.
One official involved in White House consultations confirmed that Syria remains a top priority for the Trump administration, given the security concerns raised by developments there, not only for the U.S. but also for its regional allies, including Israel and Iraq.
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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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