Al-Mezzeh District: New Israeli Targeting of the Regime's Stronghold in the Heart of the Capital
The repeated targeting of the Mezzeh area highlights the major security failures of the Syrian regime, as it fails to protect sensitive areas in the capital, increasing doubts about its legitimacy and
October 21, 2024, 7:17 pm

Al-Mezzeh District: New Israeli Targeting of the Regime's Stronghold in the Heart of the Capital

سيارة مفجرة في المزة \ تعبيرية \ متداول

The Mezzeh area, under the control of the Syrian regime in Damascus, was shaken by the echoes of a huge explosion heard throughout the capital. The regime's news agency claimed that the explosion resulted from a missile targeting a vehicle in this neighborhood.

Initial reports indicated the possibility of an assassination operation carried out by Israel, without revealing the identity of the targeted person. The regime's defense ministry acknowledged the Israeli nature of the attack, claiming it resulted from a raid that killed two people inside an SUV and injured several passersby.

According to a regime official in Damascus, the targeting occurred near Al-Sharqiya roundabout, next to the "Golden Mezzeh" hotel in Eastern Mezzeh, causing the car to catch fire. Some sources circulated news about the proximity of the targeted vehicle to a condolence gathering held for Yahya Sinwar, the head of Hamas's political bureau.

Damage was caused to the facade of the hotel adjacent to the explosion site, which is close to the regime's Ministry of Information, while the place was filled with burned cars.

This incident comes in a series of targetings witnessed in the Mezzeh area, located west of Damascus. At the beginning of this month, the son-in-law of Hezbollah's Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, was subjected to an assassination operation that led to his death.

The Mezzeh area holds great strategic importance for the regime, as it includes a number of security and military headquarters belonging to it, in addition to residences of prominent Palestinian and Iranian leaders, a cluster of embassies and UN organizations. The neighborhood has witnessed notable urban development to become one of the most modern and upscale suburbs of Damascus under regime control.

The Mezzeh area extends over an area of 7,750 hectares, from Umayyad Square in the east to the Somaria area in the west, and from Mezzeh Mountain in the north to the Kafr Sousa area in the south. Estimates indicate that its population is about 90,000 people.

The neighborhood houses the regime's presidential palace overlooking the area, in addition to many administrative buildings, a court complex, and international official headquarters. It also includes the Mezzeh military airport, which was previously the main airport of Damascus before the establishment of the international airport in the southeastern part of the capital.

This strategic area for the regime has witnessed numerous incidents, including the killing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's intelligence chief in Syria and his deputy in an Israeli strike last January, which also claimed the lives of two Revolutionary Guard members, according to what was announced by the official Iranian media.

The repetition of targetings in this vital area highlights the fragility of the regime's control and its inability to protect its main strongholds in the heart of the capital, increasing doubts about its ability to govern and impose its effective control over the areas it claims to control.

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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.