Cairo: Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Egypt’s defence minister and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, supervised the main phase of the ‘Badr 2026’ live-fire tactical exercise conducted by a unit of the Third Field Army. This exercise took place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, as announced by the military.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the drill was attended by Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, alongside senior military commanders, governors, lawmakers, and students from both military and civilian institutions. It is part of ongoing efforts to sustain combat readiness and operational efficiency. The main phase commenced with a briefing on the exercise plan and earlier stages, followed by a multi-branch combat scenario that involved coordinated air, land, and Special Forces operations.
During the exercise, Air Force units performed reconnaissance and support sorties, while air defence systems and artillery provided cover to suppress simulated enemy positions and disrupt reinforcements. Armored and mechanized forces advanced to breach defensive lines and engage targets, supported by armed helicopters and anti-tank guided missile units to counter simulated counterattacks. Special Forces, including paratroopers and commando units, carried out airborne assaults and raids on designated objectives.
Major General Ahmed Mahdi Sarhan, the Third Field Army Commander, stated that troops were exerting ‘maximum effort’ to maintain high levels of efficiency and combat readiness, enabling them to perform all assigned missions to defend national security. At the conclusion of the exercise, Zaher conveyed greetings from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, commending the armed forces personnel for their performance and reaffirming the military’s commitment to maintaining and developing its combat systems, weapons, and equipment.
Zaher emphasized that the armed forces, with their capabilities across all branches, are prepared to safeguard the country’s security and protect its interests amid regional challenges. He added that such exercises send a message of reassurance regarding the military’s constant readiness to defend Egypt in all strategic directions. Separately, Chief of Staff Ahmed Khalifa observed another phase of the exercise involving an assault on forward defensive positions with air support and engaged with participating officers on the planning and management of operations, as well as responses to evolving tactical scenarios during combat.