Lebanese Red Cross Reports 18 Fatalities from Israeli Airstrike in Aito
October 14, 2024, 5:27 pm

Lebanese Red Cross Reports 18 Fatalities from Israeli Airstrike in Aito

قوات إسرائيلية

The Lebanese Red Cross announced on Monday that 18 individuals have been killed and others injured in an Israeli airstrike on the predominantly Christian region of Aito in northern Lebanon. Rescue operations and debris removal are still underway.

As tensions continue to escalate in southern Lebanon, a series of earlier Israeli airstrikes targeted the towns of "Ali al-Nahri," "Masa," and "Brital" in the Bekaa Valley. These attacks follow a surge in hostilities, with Hezbollah declaring on Monday that it launched missiles at a military barracks in central Israel and carried out a "qualitative" missile strike on a naval base near Haifa, following a drone attack which resulted in the deaths of at least four soldiers.

Hezbollah stated in a press release that its fighters executed a "qualitative missile barrage on the Stella Maris naval base northwest of Haifa," just hours after threatening further attacks if Israel continued its "aggression against our people."

Additionally, Hezbollah reported on Monday that it targeted Israeli soldiers within the border town of Maroun al-Ras in southern Lebanon, where Israel has been conducting "limited" ground operations since late September.

In a statement, Hezbollah indicated that its fighters struck "a gathering of Israeli enemy soldiers in southern Maroun al-Ras with artillery shells," following prior announcements regarding their targeting of soldiers and countering "infiltration attempts" at various border locations.

Earlier, correspondents from "Al Arabiya" and "Al Hadath" reported rocket fire towards Haifa and its vicinity. The Israeli military confirmed that it detected a rocket launched from Lebanon towards Haifa, which landed in an open area, while Hezbollah asserted that it targeted an Israeli force during an infiltration attempt into southern Lebanon.

While the Lebanese news agency reported a series of airstrikes on the towns of Yahr al-Shuqif and Ma'aroub in the south, "Channel 12" in Israel reported intercepting rockets launched from Lebanon towards the Galilee, with some landing in open areas.

Before these developments, our correspondent reported intense clashes between Hezbollah fighters and the Israeli army in the Markabah area of southern Lebanon. He noted that Hezbollah fighters also foiled infiltration attempts by units of the Israeli army in areas including Labouna and Khalat al-Tafah, using missiles and heavy weaponry, as per a statement issued following the clashes.

The Israeli military announced the deaths of four soldiers resulting from a drone attack that originated from southern Lebanon, targeting a military base near Benyamina, south of Haifa. An Israeli military spokesperson revealed that there are seven individuals with severe injuries.

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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.