Egypt’s Armed Forces have released a new episode of the documentary series “Hekayat Batal” (A Hero’s Story), recounting the life and sacrifice of Staff Sergeant Mohamed Mostafa Harbi, a bomb disposal specialist whose expertise made him one of the most feared figures among terrorists in North Sinai at the time.
The episode, published on the official pages of military spokesperson Brigadier General Staff Gharib Abdel Hafez, tells the story of a soldier who dedicated his life to protecting others from one of the deadliest threats in counter-terrorism : improvised explosive devices.
To his fellow servicemen, Harbi was more than an explosives expert.
He was a mentor, a trusted colleague and a man whose professionalism saved countless lives.
Specialist on front line
According to testimonies featured in the documentary, Harbi quickly established himself as one of the Armed Forces’ most experienced bomb disposal technicians after being deployed to North Sinai.
His mission was among the most dangerous in the military.
While others advanced towards objectives, Harbi often moved first, searching roads, checkpoints and operational areas for hidden explosives designed to kill soldiers and civilians alike.
Colleagues described him as a reference point for younger specialists, regularly sharing his expertise and teaching others the skills needed to detect and dismantle explosive devices safely.
“He believed success was a collective responsibility,” one comrade recalled.
Target for terrorists
The documentary reveals that Harbi’s effectiveness eventually made him a priority target for terrorists.
According to fellow soldiers, terrorists were well aware that many of the explosive devices they planted would ultimately be discovered and neutralised by him before causing casualties.
As their losses mounted, direct threats began reaching him.
One message reportedly warned him: “The next bomb is yours, Mohamed Harbi.”
Yet colleagues say the threats never changed his behaviour.
He continued carrying out missions with the same determination and composure that had defined his career.
His final mission
On the day of his death, Harbi joined a military operation aimed at clearing an area of explosive devices planted by terrorists.
According to the documentary, he and his team successfully dismantled several bombs before reaching what appeared to be the primary device.
Unbeknown to the force, terrorists had prepared a deadly trap specifically designed to target the bomb disposal team.
As Harbi moved forward to neutralise the device, another explosive charge hidden nearby was detonated remotely.
The blast martyred him instantly.
Legacy that endures
The documentary concludes by highlighting the impact Harbi left behind.
One fellow soldier recalled asking commanders for permission to continue the mission that Harbi had begun, determined to carry on clearing explosives and confronting the threat that had claimed his friend’s life.
For comrades who served alongside him, Mohamed Harbi’s story is not only about sacrifice.
It is about a soldier whose courage forced terrorists to fear the very man sent to defeat their deadliest weapon.
Long after his death, they say, his legacy remains a reminder of those who walked towards danger so that others could live.
