Egypt’s Armed Forces have released a new episode of the documentary series “Hekayat Batal” (A Hero’s Story), recounting the final hours of First Lieutenant Ahmed Fawzy Aql and First Lieutenant Islam Mohamed Ismail, two young Thunderbolt Forces officers martyred during one of the most dangerous operations of Sinai 2018.
The episode, titled “Al-Rafiqan” (The Two Companions), was published on the official pages of military spokesperson Brigadier General Staff Gharib Abdel Hafez as part of an ongoing effort to document the sacrifices made by Egyptian servicemen during years of counter-terrorism operations in North Sinai.
Through testimonies from commanders and fellow soldiers, the documentary reconstructs a raid that unfolded deep inside the forests north of Rafah — an area described by officers as one of the most dangerous terrorist strongholds at the time.
Into forest
According to the film, intelligence reports received by the 83rd Thunderbolt Battalion revealed the presence of terrorist hideouts inside the heavily wooded sector known as Al-Ahrash.
The area served as a logistical base and strategic shelter for terrorists operating across North Sinai at the time.
On 27 February 2018, the battalion received orders to launch a raid on the Abu Madi residential complex north of Rafah, a location considered critical because controlling it would disrupt terrorists’ movement and weaken their operational reach.
The documentary portrays both officers as deeply committed to the mission from the very beginning.
One day before deployment, First Lieutenant Ahmed Fawzy Aql personally supervised preparations, inspecting weapons, ammunition, technical equipment and patrol readiness before reporting to commanders that the unit was fully prepared.
First Lieutenant Islam Mohamed Ismail, meanwhile, had not originally been assigned to the operation.
But according to colleagues, he insisted on joining.
The young officer reportedly approached commanders requesting permission to participate, driven by what fellow soldiers described as an unusually strong sense of duty and combat readiness.
Approval was eventually granted, placing him alongside his close friend Ahmed Fawzy.
Heavy fire from all directions
As Egyptian forces advanced in stages towards Al-Ahrash and Abu Madi, violent clashes erupted.
Terrorists opened heavy fire from multiple directions in an attempt to stop the Thunderbolt units from reaching the buildings, while military engineers moved forward to dismantle explosive devices planted along roads and inside structures.
Despite the intensity of the fighting, troops succeeded in securing parts of the area and deploying forces onto rooftops to protect engineering teams conducting searches and clearance operations.
Ahmed Fawzy and Islam Ismail were among the officers assigned to rooftop security positions.According to testimonies in the documentary, terrorists then escalated the confrontation by using heavier weapons, including mortar shells.
During an attempt to repair a machine-gun malfunction amid the clashes, a mortar round landed near the officers’ position.Both men were critically wounded.
They were evacuated first to Rafah sector medical facilities and later transferred to Al-Arish Military Hospital, where their deaths were announced shortly afterwards.
‘He Always Said He Would Be First’
Beyond the battle itself, the documentary focuses on the personalities behind the uniforms.
Friends recalled that Islam Ismail often told colleagues he believed he would become the first martyr from the 111th Military Academy class.
“It was as if he sensed his path,” one comrade said.
The prediction later became reality.Ahmed Fawzy, meanwhile, was remembered as an officer admired not only for his discipline and courage, but also for his humanity.
Soldiers described him as approachable, generous and deeply connected to the men under his command.
According to comrades, he regularly organised informal weekly meetings with troops to listen to their personal and professional problems away from official military routines.
