Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief and Defence and Military Production Minister Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher attended the main phase of a live-fire tactical exercise conducted by a unit of the Second Field Army.
The exercise was attended by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, branch commanders and other military leaders.
Second Field Army commander Major General Mohamed Youssef Assaf said the Armed Forces’ General Command was supporting the army’s personnel to reach the highest levels of efficiency and combat readiness, enabling them to carry out their assigned missions and responsibilities.
The main phase began with a briefing on the exercise’s tactical concept and previous stages. It included operations to develop an offensive, supported by air force sorties for reconnaissance, protection and assistance to ground forces. Air-defence systems provided cover, while artillery fire suppressed and destroyed enemy defences.
Armoured and mechanised forces then advanced to breach and engage enemy defences, with support from armed helicopters. Special forces from the paratroopers and commandos carried out air-assault and raid operations to destroy identified targets.
At the end of the phase, Zaher conveyed the greetings and appreciation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the Armed Forces’ Supreme Commander, and his recognition of the military’s efforts to carry out its duties under all conditions.
He congratulated personnel on the 53rd anniversary of the October victories and praised their performance during the exercise, saying it reflected the armed forces’ high readiness to safeguard the country’s resources and protect its sacred sites. He also discussed with participating commanders and officers how they carried out their tasks and made decisions in response to changing circumstances.
Separately, Lieutenant General Khalifa attended preparations for the exercise and followed one of its phases, which included a planned training mission. He questioned commanders and officers about their performance to assess their ability to make sound decisions during operations.
