Egypt’s Armed Forces have released a new episode of the documentary series “Hekayat Batal” (A Hero’s Story), telling the story of Major Amr Wahib Attia, an elite Thunderbolt Forces officer remembered by comrades for refusing to abandon his mission despite serious illness shortly before his death.
The episode, titled “Boyka”, was published by military spokesperson Brigadier General Staff Gharib Abdel Hafez as part of an ongoing series documenting the sacrifices made by Egyptian servicemen during counter-terrorism operations in North Sinai.
Through testimonies from fellow officers and soldiers, the documentary portrays a commander driven by duty, loyalty and an unwavering commitment to the men under his command.
According to colleagues featured in the film, Major Amr Wahib was suffering from health problems on the day of the operation. Commanders reportedly considered replacing him because of his condition. He refused.
The mission targeted two of the most dangerous terrorists leaders operating in the Al-Mahdiya area near Rafah.
Mission before dawn
Major Wahib served as commander of the support force assigned to the operation.
The raid began shortly after midnight, and by dawn Egyptian forces had succeeded in killing the targeted terrorists during intense clashes.
As fighting continued, Wahib received orders to move with reinforcement units towards the area where terrorists were still engaged with troops on the ground.
While advancing towards the scene, the Humvee carrying the officer struck an improvised explosive device planted by terrorists. The blast severely wounded him.
According to one testimony in the documentary, a non-commissioned officer attempted to evacuate Major Wahib from the destroyed vehicle. But the wounded officer reportedly signalled for him to focus instead on another injured soldier positioned nearby.
Comrades said Wahib appeared fully aware that he would not survive.
Even in his final moments, they recalled, his priority remained the safety of his men.
‘We Were All Waiting for Our Turn’
Beyond the battlefield, the documentary focuses on the personal impact Major Wahib left on those around him.
One fellow soldier described his funeral as overwhelming, saying huge crowds gathered because of the officer’s kindness, generosity and strong relationships within the community.
“He was loved by everyone,” the soldier said.
The film also reflects the mentality shared by many members of Egypt’s elite Thunderbolt units during years of conflict in Sinai.
“We are all potential martyrs,” one comrade says in the documentary. “We are all waiting for our turn. We are here to sacrifice ourselves for the country.”
According to the film, Wahib’s battalion later launched operations to avenge his martyrdom.
Two weeks after the attack, troops reportedly killed five militants, including the operative accused of planting the explosive device that struck the officer’s vehicle.
For those who fought beside him, however, “Boyka” represents more than a codename.
It is the story of a commander who entered battle already exhausted by illness — yet still chose to place the lives of his soldiers above his own until the very end.
