Israel Targets Hezbollah Intelligence Assets Near Damascus
November 5, 2024, 11:37 am

Israel Targets Hezbollah Intelligence Assets Near Damascus

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Israel announced that its airstrikes near the Syrian capital of Damascus on Monday targeted interests linked to the “Hezbollah Intelligence Division,” which is aligned with Iran.

IDF spokesperson for Arabic media, Avichai Adraee, stated on November 4 that Israeli aircraft attacked Hezbollah's infrastructure and assets. He added via his account on “X” that the party, supported by the Syrian regime, risks the safety of Syrians by establishing command posts and forces within civilian areas in Syria.

Adraee pointed out that the Hezbollah Intelligence Division serves as the central intelligence entity responsible for shaping the organization's intelligence picture, equipped with information-gathering and surveillance capabilities.

According to the IDF spokesperson, this division works to activate an office within Syria that includes collection and assessment systems. Hezbollah intelligence operated independently, under the direct guidance of its head, Hussein Ali Hazima, who was killed in Beirut about a month ago in an Israeli strike alongside Hashem Safieddine.

Adraee also noted that the strike in Beirut resulted in the death of Mahmoud Mohammed Shaheen, in addition to Safieddine and Hazima, who was Hezbollah's intelligence chief in Syria. He explained that Shaheen held a series of positions within Hezbollah and the intelligence division before assuming the role of head of that division in Syria in 2007.

Over time, he gained experience and built close working relationships with the Syrian regime and entities within the "Iranian axis." Shaheen led operations to enhance and activate intelligence and air defense capabilities in collaboration with various parties in the Iranian axis, according to Adraee.

The IDF spokesperson added that the Hezbollah Intelligence Division faced an airstrike that destroyed its facilities in Lebanon, targeting all its information capabilities, including interests within Syria.

Israeli aircraft targeted sites near the town of Sayyida Zaynab in the Damascus countryside, south of the Syrian capital, on Monday. The Syrian official news agency (SANA) reported that an Israeli bombing targeted the vicinity of Sayyida Zaynab in southern Damascus, without providing further details about the nature of the targeted sites.

Despite the Israeli military later announcing that the airstrikes targeted Hezbollah locations in Syria, the Syrian regime claimed the strikes targeted civilian sites. The regime's Ministry of Defense stated via Facebook that Israel struck several civilian sites south of Damascus from the direction of the occupied Syrian Golan, adding that the strike resulted in some material losses without indicating casualties.

Local radio station "Sham FM" reported that the Israeli attack in the Damascus countryside targeted three points: the city of Sayyida Zaynab, the area around Damascus International Airport hotel, and the vicinity of the town of Najha. Initial information indicated that there were casualties.

Israel frequently targets sites in the capital Damascus or nearby, often focusing on Hezbollah members or assets or individuals from other groups supported by Tehran in Syria. The frequency of Israeli bombardments has increased following the escalation in southern Lebanon, which turned into a wider conflict on September 23.

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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.