Ahmed al-Awda: Eighth Brigade Commander Insists on Independent Daraa Administration
Al-Awda's Changing Positions and Diverse Regional Relationships Reflect a Local Leadership Model Capable of Independently Managing Its Areas
January 11, 2025, 8:19 pm

Ahmed al-Awda: Eighth Brigade Commander Insists on Independent Daraa Administration

أحمد العودة \ تعبيرية \ متداولة

Military commander Ahmed al-Awda, from Bosra al-Sham in Daraa Governorate, has carved his name in the Syrian landscape through a fluctuating journey spanning over a decade, distinguished by his complex relationships with regional powers and political maneuvering capabilities.

A source close to al-Awda revealed that the forty-something commander, an English literature graduate from Damascus University, completed his mandatory military service before leaving to the UAE with his family, returning a year after the Syrian revolution's outbreak to engage in armed resistance against Assad's regime, losing three brothers in battles.

Al-Awda's trajectory evolved from leading the "Sunni Youth Battalion" to becoming a leader in the Free Syrian Army's Southern Front in 2014, receiving generous support from the Jordanian and Emirati "Mouk" military operations room through his kinship with Syrian businessman Khaled al-Muhaimid, before transitioning to limited Russian funding.

By 2018, al-Awda became commander of the "Eighth Brigade" nominally affiliated with the Syrian Army, then joined the "Fifth Legion" in late 2020, maintaining his decision-making independence and leadership of thousands of fighters, notably participating in eliminating ISIS leader Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi in Jasim city.

Al-Awda's entry into Damascus on December 8th, before the arrival of "Military Operations Management" forces, was a notable event, though he withdrew after hours, with a close source explaining the withdrawal as "avoiding potential conflicts during the initial victory hours", adding that limited supplies compared to northern forces influenced this decision.

Analysts view al-Awda's current stance of refusing to dissolve his faction and maintaining southern influence as reflecting a vision aligned with regional Arab states "uncomfortable with Syria's developments", potentially facilitating or challenging the new administration's governance.

His strategic position near Israel, combined with dissatisfaction about new military formations that overlooked southern factions' leadership, makes his relationship with Damascus's new authority a challenging addition to multiple pending files.

Estimates suggest al-Awda might play a pivotal role in shaping southern Syria's future, given his robust regional relationships and local popular base, representing a potential model of local leadership capable of independently managing its region within a decentralized governance system.

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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.