Photos: El-Sisi delegates defense minister to lead wreath-laying ceremony on Martyr’s Day

CAIRO – 8 March 2026: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, on Sunday delegated Minister of Defense and Military Production Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher to lay wreaths at the tombs of the Armed Forces’ martyrs and the Unknown Soldier in Cairo.

The ceremony marked Egypt’s annual Martyr's and Veterans' Day on 9 March, commemorating the anniversary of the death of former Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces Abdel Moneim Riad in 1969.

 

Zaher, accompanied by Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa and senior military leaders from all service branches, placed a wreath at the Unknown Soldier Memorial as military bands performed the Martyrs’ Salute.

Following the wreath-laying, the delegation recited the Al-Fatiha prayer at the grave of late President Anwar Sadat to honor his memory.

 

The ceremony concluded with Zaher greeting senior military officials.

In a related gesture, Zaher delegated field army commanders and military region leaders to lay wreaths at the Unknown Soldier tombs, accompanied by governors and security directors within the assigned governorates.