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Abu Dhabi Airport attack .. New crime committed by Iranian-backed militias .. Why now?

The terrorist Iranian-backed Houthi militia carried out this morning, Monday, a drone attack on Abu Dhabi Airport. The attack killed 3 people and wounded 6 others, as stated by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).
WAM said that the fires have been extinguished and air traffic has not been disrupted. A Houthi military spokesman told Reuters that militias launched an attack on the UAE.
Observers told Levantnews the new Houthi crime of targeting Abu Dhabi airport reflects how angry the Iranian militia is because of its repeated losses in Yemen and its political and military defeat in several Arab countries.
The Egyptian researcher on regional security issues Mohammed Fawzi said that the Houthi organization’s adoption of the attacks on the UAE and the seizure of the Rawabi ship confirms the danger posed by the Houthi militia. This escalation and these miscalculations prevent the Houthis from being integrated into an expected peace process in Yemen.
The reasons behind the terrorist attack
Fawzi said he believes that this attack is motivated by several reasons. It reflects the Houthis adopts revenge policy because its military situation in Yemen changed for the benefit of the coalition and Yemeni forces. For the first time since operation Golden Arrow to liberate Aden in 2015, large fronts of the Houthi militia such as the Shabwa Front have been restored and other areas are on the way.
Fawzi stressed that the attack was related to the Iranian calculations in the last phase. Iran seems not to like the UAE's purchase of Rafale aircraft from France. Iran said that the militarisation of our region is unacceptable and the weapons they sell in the region are the source of turmoil.
بيان مهم للقوات المسلحة للإعلان عن عملية عسكرية نوعية في العمق الإماراتي خلال الساعات القادمة.
— العميد يحيى سريع (@army21ye) January 17, 2022
"The attack also coincides with an Emirati-Arab escalation at the international level against the Houthis. The UAE sent a message to the UN Security Council regarding the hijacking of Rawabi ship as well as the statement of the Arab Coalition to Support Legitimacy in this regard as well as the operational escalation by the coalition."
Does the Anniversary of Qasem Soleimani's assassination have something to do with the attack?
Fawzi explained that these Houthi operations coincide with the anniversary of Soleimani's assassination and Vienna talks. Iran uses these moves as pressure to negotiate. It wants to say that Iranian militias can reach strategic depths and carry out qualitative operations that enhance instability in the region.
A mere Iranian attack
Yemeni political analyst Majed al-Daare confirmed that the attack against the UAE on Monday was carried out by Iranian hands in terms of planning, arming and goals as well and of course carried out by the Houthi militia. He also pointed to the targeting of Saudi Arabia and the UAE simultaneously.
Al-Daare told Levantnews that the Iranian experiences clearly appear in the operations the Houthi militia adopted in its war with the coalition. These attacks are a response to the tragic losses that the Houthi militia suffered after the coalition forces managed to expel it from Shabwa and liberate it completely in the last few months.
Al-Daare stressed that the capabilities of the terrorist Houthi militia do not go beyond the Saudi depth pointing out that reaching the UAE was impossible through the capabilities of the regular militias.
Violent response from the coalition
Concerning its impact, al-Daare said that the Houthis will pay the price stressing that the coalition will respond to it more violently and will attack all the remaining sites of the terrorist militia. He also stressed that the great powers being now a part of the war greatly supports the information and military movements of the Arab coalition. Al-Daare expected that the UAE will respond violently to the incident in the next few hours.
Exclusive for Al Mayadeen: 20 drones and 10 Yemeni ballistic missiles were able to reach sensitive targets in the #UAE#ابوظبي #الامارات pic.twitter.com/A94xK5FywF
— Mohammad Javad Omidali (@Mj_omidali) January 17, 2022
The first regional reaction to the incident, the Arab Parliament strongly condemned the terrorist Houthi militia's launch of several booby-trapped drones from Sanaa Airport towards the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The Arab Parliament affirmed that what happened is a cowardly terrorist attack and a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and all international laws. It is a blatant attack on the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates. It also proves the insistence of these terrorist Houthi militias to continue their cowardly criminal attacks.
BY: Rasha Amaar
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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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