Cairo: Minister of Defence and Military Production Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher met with officers and non-commissioned officers from the Second and Third Field Armies to discuss regional developments and reinforce combat readiness, the military spokesman said on Monday. The meeting is part of ongoing engagements by the Armed Forces' General Command aimed at unifying operational concepts and raising awareness of the rapidly evolving events in the Middle East and their implications for Egypt's national security.

According to State Information Service Egypt, during the meeting, Minister Zaher conveyed President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's greetings and appreciation to the troops, praising their 'dedication and sincerity' in safeguarding the country and its resources, according to a statement by the military spokesman. He also held an open discussion with the personnel, listening to their views and questions on regional developments.

The defence minister stressed the importance of maintaining full awareness of surrounding developments, adding that the General Command is committed to providing continuous support to all units to ensure the highest levels of efficiency and combat readiness. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Defence's General Secretariat headquarters, was attended by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, along with the commanders of the Second and Third Field Armies.

Zaher later shared an iftar meal with the troops.