Playing Chicken in Northeast Syria
September 9, 2020, 7:22 am

James Denseiow

During the Cold War as the two Superpowers navigated geopolitical tensions, some of the nearest misses came in the form of accidents that could have triggered a third world war or some form of nuclear apocalypse. Planes carrying deadly missiles would crash land, radar systems would malfunction and warn of pre-emptive strikes, nuclear submarines would play cat and mouse games in ocean trenches.

Whilst these days are long gone and the Cold War is over, the relationship between Russia and the USA remains strained and nowhere is this more obviously manifested than in northeast Syria. Last week several US troops were injured in a collision with a Russian military vehicle in northeast Syria, with at least four troops suffering mild concussion-like injuries. Thanks to social media unlike Cold War incidents this collision, something reminiscent of a Mad Max scene, was quickly seen and shared around the world.

Armoured US and Russian vehicles are now playing a bizarre game of chicken along the desert roads of northeast Syria with hugely dangerous and unpredictable consequences. When the two countries initially found themselves on opposite sides of Syria’s fast changing frontlines, conduct was characterised as being professional and respectful. That’s clearly no longer the case. Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman explained later in the week that the US “have advised the Russians that their behaviour was dangerous and unacceptable. We expect a return to routine and professional deconfliction in Syria and reserve the right to defend our forces vigorously whenever their safety is put at risk.”

Within such diplomatic language is the clear ‘right to defend our forces’ which could of course mean that events could quite easily spiral out of control. What would have happened, for example, if the US vehicle had been flipped and could no longer leave the area, would the rest of the convoy have fired on Russian forces?

There is no better evidence to the unpredictability and unsustainability of the situation in this corner of Syria than this dangerous dance of armoured vehicles. The Russians blamed the US for the incident saying that it was their vehicles who were being prevented in carrying out what had been an agreed patrol.

Moscow has a deeper and more historic role in Syria than Washington. Whilst the US arrived to help fight ISIS it has kept a force of around 500 soldiers, despite President Trump promising a full withdrawal, to protect oil infrastructure and coordinate with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Moscow is interested in Regime preservation and consolidating Syria as a forward base for its influence, it has up to 4,100 soldiers in the country and has played a key role in helping Damascus restore control over territory lost over the course of the nearly decade long conflict.

Moscow is seemingly not willing to allow the continued US presence to proceed without cost and giving its forces the authority to ram US vehicles is a clear sign of intent. Back in February 2018 a large force of Russian mercenaries launched an assault against US positions near a major oilfield. They were repulsed, suffering heavy casualties, but the incident was more evidence of Moscow’s decision to push back against the US.

Considering Trump’s reticence to still have US forces in the country and with an election looming, one wonders what could happen if these tensions manifest in US soldiers being more seriously injured or killed. Would Trump double down, increase the US presence in the area and loosen the rules of engagement as a manifestation of strength? Or would any further incident be a trigger for him to order a more abrupt full withdrawal which could have a cascade effect on the power balance for a large chunk of the country?

Such is the unpredictability of the situation and how a single incident could metastasise into a series of events that could impact significantly on the balance of power in the country going forward. At a tactical level there is an obvious need to review and restart whatever deconfliction processes are currently in play in the area, at a political level Moscow and Washington have to decide whether this part of the world is a zone of cooperation or a zone of competition. Moscow appears to have made its mind up that the US interest is temporal and shallow and that it can be nudged into withdrawal by a show of more aggressive intent by Russian forces. However, Trump’s unpredictability makes this approach by no means guaranteed to succeed and instead unforeseen events could follow if the game of ‘chicken’ were to continue.

by : jamse danselow

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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.