Egyptian Defense Minister Calls on Army to Maintain “Highest Levels of Readiness”

Egyptian Defense Minister, General Abdel Majid Saqr, on Tuesday urged the Third Field Army to “maintain the highest levels of combat readiness, ensuring that the armed forces remain capable of fulfilling their assigned tasks and responsibilities under all circumstances.”

This statement came during the minister’s attendance at the “main phase of the Tactical Command Center exercise for the Third Field Army,” according to a statement by Egyptian military spokesperson Brigadier General Gharib Abdel Hafez.

The statement noted that “this phase was executed over several days as part of the combat training plan for the formations and units of the armed forces.” The exercise was attended by Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, along with commanders of key military branches and several senior military officials. However, the statement did not specify the duration or exact location of the event.

Commitment to Readiness and Sacrifice

During the combat exercise, Major General Hisham Shendi, commander of the Third Field Army, emphasized that “soldiers of the Third Field Army are dedicated to achieving the highest levels of efficiency and combat readiness, enabling them to execute all assigned tasks in defense of national security and stability—no matter the sacrifices required.”

The statement further explained that “the main phase of the exercise included a summary presentation of the operational strategy, the previous tasks carried out at various stages, and the decisions made by commanders during the exercise management.”

According to the statement, the Egyptian defense minister “engaged with several participants in the exercise, discussing their methods of task execution and the optimal decision-making process for handling unexpected battlefield scenarios.”

He reiterated his directive for “the Third Field Army personnel to uphold the highest levels of combat readiness, ensuring that the armed forces remain fully capable of executing their responsibilities under all conditions.”

Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa also held discussions with commanders and officers regarding the executed missions, posing several unexpected tactical scenarios to assess their ability to make sound strategic decisions based on situational demands.

Strategic Role of the Third Field Army

One of the primary responsibilities of the Third Field Army is securing the Sinai Peninsula and protecting Egypt’s borders adjacent to the Gaza Strip.

This military drill and the reaffirmation of combat readiness come at a time when former U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly proposed the forced displacement of Gaza’s residents. On Monday, Trump reiterated that, under his proposed plan for controlling the Gaza Strip, Palestinians would be denied the right to return to their homeland, as revealed in excerpts from a newly released interview.