Egypt's new defense minister meets with Second and Third Field Army commanders

CAIRO - 10 March 2026: General Ashraf Salem Zaher, Minister of Defense, met with several unit and subunit commanders from the Second and Third Field Armies at the General Secretariat of the Ministry of Defense.

The meeting was attended by Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.

General Zaher, who was appointed in February, conveyed greetings from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, to the personnel. During the session, the minister reviewed international and regional developments impacting Egyptian national security, specifically focusing on the stability of the Sinai Peninsula and the Suez Canal corridor—the primary zones of responsibility for these two field armies.

In a Tuesday dialogue, the minister addressed inquiries regarding regional events and urged personnel to maintain high morale while enhancing their technical and physical skills. He praised the ongoing efforts of the Second and Third Field Armies, which serve as the nation's eastern shield, in protecting Egypt's borders and securing vital maritime interests.

The minister concluded the visit by joining the personnel for an Iftar meal and Maghrib prayers.