From the setback to the October victory…a fragrant history and messages for future generations
On October 6, 1973, Egypt recorded a national epic that will remain engraved in the pages of history, as the October War was a turning point in the history of the Middle East, in which the Egyptian armed forces demonstrated the power of will, exceeded the impossible and broke the myth of the “invincible army.” And the restoration of the nation’s dignity after the setback of 1967. The heroes achieved an unforgettable victory, both military and political, and the October War became a living testimony to the Egyptian character that turned defeat into victory, restored national pride and reclaimed the land.
In the context of celebrating this dear historical memory, Rosa Al-Youssef newspaper and portal organized a distinguished symposium, within the framework of celebrating the anniversary of the glorious October victories No. 51, and hosted four heroes of the October War from the Egyptian Armed Forces, namely: Major General Engineer/Hussein Masoud, Minister of Civil Aviation. Former Chief of Staff Pilot Major General Hassan Rashid, former Chief of Staff of the Air Forces, Major General Sameh Abu Hashima, the strategic expert, and Major Ahmed Abdel Azim. The aim of the symposium was to evoke stories of heroism and draw lessons and lessons, to be an inspiring message for current and future generations.< /p>
The symposium witnessed the presence of Dr. Heba Sadiq, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Rosa Al-Youssef Foundation, and its activities were moderated by journalist Ayman Abdel Majeed, Editor-in-Chief of the Rosa Al-Youssef newspaper and portal and the Golden Book.
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In the beginning… Major General Hussein Masoud, engineer of the 19th Helicopter Squadron at the time, spoke about the setback of 1967, in which the Egyptian armed forces were not tested and left widespread destruction, and our armed forces had to rebuild from scratch. Psychological and training preparation, as well as weapons and restoring confidence.
He added that his role as an engineer was essential, accompanying the aircraft pilot duo, in the war, and the role of the 19th Squadron was to mobilize the 143rd Thunderbolt Battalion to carry out ambushes on Sidr Pass in South Sinai, to stop and destroy the Israeli armored forces.
He concluded his speech by saying that the battles that Egypt fought in its entire history in all its forms were the hero of the Egyptian army, which enjoyed unity and strong will.
In the same context, Major General Hassan Rashid, one of the pilots participating in the war and the makers of victory, narrated another part of the heroism, about how to manage operations and prepare for the battle, after… 1,000 days of hard training in the War of Attrition, from June 1967 until August 1970, through the “Rogers” initiative. He said: “We were conducting raids on enemy positions east of the canal, and from there we headed to Syria to strike the enemy in southern Lebanon, and these operations added great experience to us.” Very important in terms of identifying and hitting targets.
The former Chief of Staff of the Air Force explained that the Egyptian Armed Forces adopted 5 principles that enabled them to achieve victory, which are: faith in God and will, planning, Commitment, discipline, sacrifice, and he believes that these five principles can be used and applied by the Egyptian people if they want to achieve something and rise above them, so they must apply them.
Major Ahmed Abdel Azim, one of the heroes, expressed 19th Infantry Division, talked about the events he witnessed, with great warmth, as if he had regained his strong feelings at that time, and began his talk about the scenes of frustration and despair that Egyptian soldiers were exposed to as they saw the Israeli occupation armed with the best and most powerful weapons and enjoying Sinai after it occupied it, saying: “Our blood was Bigli, we wanted to receive orders, but we were informed of them, even if by insults.. “If by logic we would lose.. but by Egyptian will we were victorious so that the Egyptians would not leave their land.”
And he continued his speech. Regarding the mission of the 19th Infantry Division, the fire preparation was following the first air strike, besieging the fortified points after crossing and storming the Bar Lev Line, and the collapse of the Israeli enemy’s fortifications in the area of Shatt, Port Tawfiq, Oyoun Moussa, Jabal al-Murr, and Mitla, as well as defending the valiant city of Suez in cooperation with the popular resistance and inflicting heavy losses on the enemy at night. And during the day after Security Council Resolution No. 338 of the ceasefire on October 22, 1973, which Israel did not adhere to.
He pointed out that the occupation army was searching for the remains of those killed in Sinai, not because He wanted to bury them, as the Western media thought at that time. Rather, it was an attempt to study and analyze the reasons for the unexpected defeat, given that the members of the Egyptian army had the courage and strength to fight the enemy soldiers closely, to the point that they found the fresh blood of our martyrs on their destroyed tanks, which made them confused. How can a soldier who is still affected by what happened in 1967 be so bold! It truly embodies the amount of suffering and despair that the Egyptian fighter felt and the transformation of the will to victory and the restoration of dignity.
Major General Sameh Abu Hashima, in his speech, singled out "the Egyptian people" And his willpower is capable of change, saying: " The economic challenges that the Egyptian people went through during the war years were very difficult, as they went to the cooperative society to buy household needs with a ration card and stood in long lines to get their share of limited food products. We lived a very simple life and we used to tie our stomachs so that we would not feel hungry. And all the people stand behind their armed forces for the ultimate goal, which is the return of Sinai, the restoration of dignity, and the expulsion of the Zionists outside the Egyptian borders.
He added, that every Egyptian home had a soul on the front lines, We are all one, and our enemy was known and we defended the soil of Egypt with our blood. This is not new for the Egyptians who have been subjected to many wars over time, but what we are witnessing today are fourth-generation wars, such as what happened in the so-called Arab Spring, and currently we are fighting a new fifth-generation war, and the weapons of our enemies have developed. It now knows very well that direct war will be in favor of the Egyptians, so it entered upon us with cyber wars, which is a type of offensive maneuver that aims to destroy information and infrastructure and is capable of reaching a larger number of victims in a hidden manner without announcing it, as well as weakening the Egyptian state by compromising its basic systems.
At the end of the symposium, each hero had a clear message, in which they talked about the values represented by this war, such as determination and will, and the necessity of adhering to national unity and insisting on defending the homeland, and with the increase The situation is difficult in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. Egypt seeks with all wisdom and strength to preserve its national security by maximizing its comprehensive capabilities. Trust and standing behind the political leadership remain the solution to overcoming all the crises that surround us and we are experiencing because of what is happening in all strategic directions.
In conclusion… these stories and memories, the symposium was able to renew the sense of pride and pride, and confirm that what the heroes of October presented will remain a source of inspiration, not only for the generations that lived through this war, but for all future generations. .
