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From Tokyo to Idlib

Seventy-five years ago bombs dropped from 279 Boeing B-29 Superfortresses burned out much of eastern Tokyo. More than 90,000 Japanese, mostly civilians,
were killed and one million left homeless, making it the single most destructive air attack of World War II. Tokyo to Idlib
A month before Tokyo suffered its fate the German city of Dresden endured a similar firebombing that killed up to 40,000 Germans.
Both attacks remain debated as to both their morality and efficacy despite occurring during what was considered a global ‘total war’. However, decades on questions around the strategic, tactical and legal aspects of the use of AirPower have again come to the fore during the nine years of conflict in Syria.
The conflict has seen virtually all of the modern superpowers involved at one stage or another and the Syrian people have experienced the full panoply of modern weaponry deployed against them.
Ever since the 1990/1991 Gulf War we’ve grown used to the concept of ‘precision’ weaponry. Back then clips of ‘smart’ guided missiles finding their way down the chimneys of enemy targets was a stark contrast to the mass effect of the carpet bombing that Tokyo endured.
Today even more nominally ‘precise’ bombs have been accentuated by the rise and rise of the use of ‘Unmanned Aerial Vehicles’ (UAVs) who are able to loiter around targets for longer and theoretically be more judicious around mitigating for civilian harm.
However, whilst weapons may be more accurate, their use in densely populated urban environments - where increasingly conflicts are happening - is devastating.
Idlib and now Idlib are the Syrian cities all bearing the scars of high explosives. The numbers of hospitals and schools that have been hit make it hard to refute the suggestions that they’ve been directly targeted.
The British diplomatic mission in New York has condemned the tactics used in Idlib, arguing that “International law does not permit you to attack the 99 percent to handle one percent”.
Often this is the precise dilemma of fighting against well dug in groups like ISIS who are more than happy to hide behind civilians to try and stay the hand of their enemy.
Yet evidence from northwest Syria suggests that the area is being used almost like a laboratory for a smorgasbord of weapons. Cluster bombs, chemical weapons, crude barrel bombs and more high tech missiles containing flechettes have all made an appearance.
Indeed the laws of war and the protections given to civilians around distinction, proportionality and military necessity all appear to have steadily hemorrhaged as the conflict has become more brutalised.
This will and is having consequences far beyond Syria’s borders. If it is acceptable in modern warfare to destroy cities in order to eliminate the non state groups hiding within them, then it is like a chemotherapy killing the patient as well as the cancer. Tokyo to Idlib
So what can be done? Firstly there needs to be vastly improved accountability for attacks that breach the laws of war. If hospitals can be targeted with impunity then don’t be surprised if the trend continues to worsen. A politician, commander or pilot carrying out such an attack must have the spectre of recriminations behind them to make them think twice before carrying out such wonton destruction.
Accountability needs to be complemented by the creation, manufacture and training given to militaries around using weapons that don’t have wide area explosive harm. Some armies are already deploying non-explosive warheads and utilising high accuracy without the same collateral that is being increasingly seen.
What’s more contested is what to do about non state actors who vary enormously in their respect to international law and codes of conduct. The ICRC have suggested developing curricula that reflect local customs into ways of protecting civilians but there is still much to do. levant
Until action is taken across these areas of accountability, weapon systems and the issue of non-state actors then the legacy of the Tokyo will remain hugely relevant in the Syria of today. levant
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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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