Egypt’s Armed Forces have released a new episode of the documentary series “Hekayat Batal” (A Hero’s Story), highlighting the life and final mission of Major Mohamed Ahmed Ghoneim, an army officer remembered by comrades for his discipline, courage and deep loyalty to his soldiers.
The film, titled “Sakhr” — Arabic for “Rock” — was published by military spokesperson Brigadier General Staff Gharib Abdel Hafez as part of an ongoing series documenting the stories of servicemen martyred during Egypt’s counter-terrorism operations.
Through testimonies from fellow officers and soldiers, the documentary paints the portrait of a commander who combined military toughness with unusual humanity.
One colleague described Ghoneim as “a real man” who worked tirelessly to maintain morale inside his unit and treated his troops with respect and brotherhood rather than distance or rank.
According to the film, the officer kept a personal notebook containing detailed information about every soldier under his command — from family conditions and personal struggles to equipment shortages and uniform needs.
Comrades say the habit reflected his belief that leadership meant knowing the burdens carried by every man beside him.
Mission in jariea
The documentary revisits a military campaign carried out in the village of Jariea in eastern Sinai.
Although Major Ghoneim was not formally assigned to join the assault team, he reportedly insisted on taking part in the mission himself.
Before deployment, he gathered members of his company and reminded them that every soldier was responsible for protecting the man next to him — telling them to remain “back to back” throughout the operation.
During the search operation, terrorists riding a motorcycle opened fire, triggering a fierce confrontation.
According to one soldier interviewed in the documentary, a machine gun belonging to one of the troops suddenly malfunctioned in the middle of the firefight. Under heavy fire, Ghoneim moved forward himself to repair the weapon before returning it to action, allowing troops to continue fighting the terrorists.
Witnesses said the officer continued relaying coordinates of terrorists positions to artillery units even after the battle intensified.
He remained in command until he was struck by sniper fire and martyred on the battlefield.
One participant in the operation said Ghoneim’s death only strengthened the determination of the unit to complete the mission.
“Our blood was boiling,” he said. “We were determined to avenge him many times over.”
The documentary closes with a reflection on the personal sacrifices made by Egyptian servicemen during years of war on terror in Sinai.
According to comrades featured in the film, Major Mohamed Ghoneim was never driven by fame or wealth. His greatest ambition, they say, was simply to protect his country and reassure the millions living beyond the battlefield.
For those who served beside him, “Sakhr” remains more than a codename. It is a symbol of resilience, loyalty and a commander who chose to stand beside his men until the final moment.
