Egypt: Egypt’s Defense Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Abdel Meguid Saqr, witnessed the execution of the ‘Deterrence 2024’ military drill, a large-scale live-fire exercise conducted in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The drill involved Egypt’s primary military branches and specialized units, with the participation of Chief of Staff General Ahmed Khalifa, leaders of key military branches, and several senior military officials.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the event began with a briefing on the strategic and tactical objectives of the exercise, delivered on board the helicopter carrier *Gamal Abdel Nasser*. In the first stage, comprehensive defense strategies were executed to protect naval units from potential threats, in coordination with the air and air defense forces. Combat aircraft intercepted and engaged hostile air threats, while chemical warfare units conducted decontamination procedures to protect units from the effects of chemical attacks,
allowing them to continue their mission.

Air defense forces repelled a simulated enemy air raid, using Avenger missiles to protect the *Gamal Abdel Nasser* carrier and its accompanying ships. Fast missile boats from the *Suleiman Ezzat* class also contributed to air defense operations. Special forces conducted visit and search procedures on a suspect commercial vessel using high-precision tactics to secure it, supported by Kamov attack helicopters providing air cover. The air force, in collaboration with naval units, executed search and rescue operations, evacuating an injured individual for medical care aboard an Augusta helicopter outfitted with field hospital facilities on the *Gamal Abdel Nasser*.

Electronic warfare units engaged hostile drones and ensured electronic security using airborne and seaborne assets to secure naval operations. In the second phase, a hostile maritime target of high importance was destroyed with Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles from missile boats, coordinated with air force
strikes to complete the target’s neutralization. Additional naval units performed focused artillery strikes on surface targets, while submarines conducted reconnaissance to detect enemy naval units. Apache helicopters engaged enemy targets identified by submarines, further showcasing the effectiveness of joint operations.

The third phase included missile coverage over a critical target using coastal air defense systems, which intercepted hostile aircraft at varying distances. These advanced air defense systems successfully eliminated all identified threats. Finally, special forces deployed from *Gamal Abdel Nasser* launched an amphibious assault on a coastal target. With the support of Northern Military Region forces, they cleared the area of adversaries and secured the coastline.

Concluding the exercise, Major General Abdel Meguid Saqr conveyed the appreciation of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the participants of ‘Deterrence 2024,’ commending their exceptional performance and high combat readiness. He
highlighted the Armed Forces’ capability to defend Egypt’s interests and resources across all strategic fronts.