Photos: Defence minister attends live-fire tactical exercise 'Badr 2026' for Third Field Army

CAIRO – 29 April 2026: Minister of Defence and Military Production Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher attended the main phase of the “Badr 2026” tactical exercise, which is conducted with live ammunition by a unit of the Third Field Army.

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa also attended the exercise, alongside commanders of the main branches, governors, parliament members, military leaders, students from military colleges and institutes, media representatives, and university students.

 

Commander of the Third Field Army Major General Ahmed Mahdi Sarhan said troops are exerting maximum effort to maintain the highest levels of combat readiness.

This enables them to carry out all assigned missions to defend the nation’s security and safety, regardless of the sacrifices required, he added.

What the Phase Included

The main phase of the exercise began with a briefing outlining the tactical concept and the different stages of the operation, as well as a review of previous activities.

 

It then moved into the execution of combat operations aimed at developing the offensive, with support from Air Force elements that carried out reconnaissance, protection, and support sorties to assist ground forces.

Operations were conducted under the cover provided by air defence systems and artillery fire, aimed to suppress and destroy enemy defences and firepower while disrupting the advance of reinforcements.

 

Armoured and mechanised units were subsequently deployed to breach enemy lines, engage opposing forces, and eliminate them, supported by armed helicopters and anti-tank guided missile units to counter potential counterattacks.

Special forces units, including paratroopers and commando forces, also carried out airborne insertion and raid operations targeting identified targets.

At the conclusion of the exercise, the defence minister, also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

 

Zaher extended the president’s appreciation for the efforts of the Armed Forces’ personnel in carrying out their duties.

He stressed the Armed Forces’ commitment to exerting every effort to maintain and preserve their combat systems, weapons, and equipment.

The defense minister highlighting the Armed Forces’ continued dedication to developing a well-rounded, aware soldier trained according to the most advanced modern methods.

 

He added that, with their wide-ranging capabilities and resources across all specialisations, the Armed Forces are able to protect the nation and safeguard its sanctities amid ongoing regional challenges and changes.

Zaher commended the high level of combat readiness demonstrated by the participating forces, as well as the precise and efficient execution of combat and live-fire tasks.

He stressed that the activities and training carried out during the exercise send a message of reassurance to the Egyptian people regarding the Armed Forces’ constant readiness to protect national security across all strategic directions.

 

Separately, Chief of Staff Ahmed Khalifa observed another phase of the exercise involving the assault on forward enemy defences with Air Force support.

Khalifa also discussed with a number of participating commanders and officers the methods of planning and managing operations, as well as how to deal with unexpected tactical situations that may arise during different phases of combat.