Egypt’s Army maintains highest levels of readiness to defend national security, protect Sinai: Commander of the Second Field Army

CAIRO – 22 December 2025: Major General Mohamed Youssef Assaf, Commander of the Second Field Army, affirmed the effectiveness of security control along the eastern border, which is considered one of the most volatile areas. 

He stated that forces have been reorganized in line with the terrain and the need to secure smuggling routes, with reconnaissance and surveillance units deployed across the area.

In remarks to Youm7, the Second Field Army commander said that the forces have been reinforced with paratrooper and commando units. He added that naval and air patrols are being conducted, alongside the deployment of thermal and radar surveillance systems and drones.

He further noted that the army relies on early-warning systems and preemptive operations, supported by a precise intelligence network and close cooperation with the people of Sinai.

Major General Mohamed Youssef Assaf reassured the Egyptian people that the soldiers of the Second Field Army are at the highest levels of readiness and preparedness to defend national security, protect Sinai, and secure all development projects.

In a recent interview, Major General Mohamed Youssef Assaf shared insights into “Operation Sinai 2018” and the extensive efforts of the Armed Forces to eliminate terrorism from the Sinai Peninsula, highlighting that military successes paved the way for the launch of comprehensive development initiatives.

During his interview with “Kelma Akhera” program broadcast on ON TV, Major General Assaf explained that the comprehensive operation, launched in 2018, relied on highly accurate intelligence and aimed to eliminate terrorist operatives while dismantling their infrastructure.

The Commander of the Second Field Army stated that the Armed Forces carried out simultaneous raids spanning from east of the Suez Canal to the international border, depriving terrorist elements of freedom of movement and cutting off their logistical supply lines.

He presented figures illustrating the scale of the challenge, noting that operations from 2011 until the complete eradication of terrorism resulted in the destruction of approximately 7,000 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the seizure of 19,000 various weapons, and the confiscation of around half a million rounds of ammunition.

Major General Assaf emphasized that 2022 marked the final “decisive phase,” during which the Armed Forces and security agencies restored full control over all areas of North Sinai. He praised the sacrifices of army and police martyrs and wounded, as well as the civilians of Sinai who stood united with the state.

He concluded by stressing that the political leadership has launched a new phase focused on connecting Sinai to cities west of the Suez Canal through major national projects, positioning the peninsula as a hub of development and transforming it from a former conflict zone into a model of reconstruction and comprehensive progress.