Suicide Drones Target "International Coalition" Base in Northeast Hasakah
August 10, 2024, 1:38 pm

North Syria/ International Friendship Base

Suicide Drones Target "International Coalition" Base in Northeast Hasakah

Local sources reported that suicide drones targeted the "International Coalition" base, which houses U.S. forces, in Khirab al-Jir in the Rmelan countryside, northeast of Hasakah. This was preceded by intensive U.S. aircraft activity along the Syrian-Iraqi border.

Photos and videos showed fires and smoke rising from the base, with initial reports indicating that vehicles were burned and American soldiers were injured.

The local "Khabour" network announced that the attack was carried out by an unidentified booby-trapped drone, while coalition forces shot down another drone that was flying over the base. The "Syrian Observatory for Human Rights" confirmed that the drones were launched by Iranian-backed militias from within Iraqi territory, noting that the attack caused material losses, and fires continued for over 40 minutes before being extinguished.

The observatory added that U.S. forces had prior knowledge of threats against their bases, leading to an increase in helicopter and warplane flights before the attack. Despite this, the attacking drones managed to reach their targets without being intercepted by the base's air defenses.

According to "The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights" statistics, U.S. bases in Syria have been subjected to 135 attacks by Iranian militias since last October 19, including 36 attacks on the Al-Omar oil field base, 40 attacks on the Conoco gas plant base, 20 attacks on the Khirab al-Jir base, 17 attacks on the Al-Tanf base, and 16 attacks on the Al-Shaddadi base.

A few days ago, at least five American soldiers were injured, one of them seriously, in a rocket attack on the Ain al-Assad base in Iraq's Anbar province. The United States accused Iranian-backed militias of being responsible for the attack.

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As of the time of this report, the U.S. Department of Defense had not issued any official statement regarding the attack, and it was unclear whether Iranian-backed militias carried out the attack in response to the increasing tension between Iran and Israel. The attack on the Khirab al-Jir base comes amid ongoing escalation between Iran and its militias and Israel, particularly after the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, with Iran vowing to retaliate for his killing.

It is noteworthy that attacks against U.S. forces in Syria and Iraq had ceased in early February after a series of escalations that began on October 17, following the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. The U.S. Department of Defense announced that its forces and bases in Syria and Iraq had been subjected to dozens of attacks using drones and rockets, with a militia known as the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" claiming most of these attacks, citing U.S. support for Israel in its war on Gaza.

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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.