Famous Egyptian Military Leaders

Egyptian military and political leader Hosni Mubarak served as the fourth president of Egypt from 1981 to 2011. An Egyptian Air Force officer prior to entering politics, he assumed office as the president after the incumbent Anwar Sadat's assassination in 1981. After 30 years, he had to step down from the presidency during the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. 

Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt was an Egyptian army general who served as the regent of his father's Muhammad Ali dynasty in 1848 due to his father's ill health. Ibrahim Pasha is best remembered for his military victories, including his impressive success against the Ottoman Empire, for which he is counted among the greatest members of the Muhammad Ali dynasty.

Amr ibn al-As was an Arab commander best remembered for his role in the Muslim conquest of Egypt. He went on to serve as the Governor of Egypt from 640 to 646 and again from 658 to 664. Prior to his role in the conquest of Egypt, Amr ibn al-As served as the Governor of Palestine from 634 to 639.

Egyptian revolutionary Muhammad Naguib was one of the pillars of the 1952 Egyptian Revolution and had a major role in the ouster of King Farouk I. A military man, he was the country’s war and navy minister. He also served as the 1st president of Egypt and its prime minister.

Abdel Hakim Amer served as the Chief of Staff of Egyptian Army, the Minister of Defense, and the Vice President of Egypt. He played an instrumental role during the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 and commanded the Egyptian Army during the Suez Crisis, the North Yemen Civil War and the Six-Day War. Many historians stated that Amer was to some extent responsible for Egypt's defeat in the Six-Day War..

Once the governor of Damascus, Najm ad-Din Ayyub was part of a group of Kurdish soldiers who served the Turkish rulers of Syria and Iraq. He was also the father of Saladin, who ruled Egypt and Syria as their first sultan and established the Ayyubid dynasty.

Herihor was an Egyptian military officer who also served as the High Priest of Amun during Ramesses XI's reign. Herihor rose through the ranks of the army during Ramesses XI's reign before taking the royal title at Thebes. Herihor's work left a long-lasting legacy and resulted in a political division of Egypt.

Apart from serving as the defense minister of Egypt, Ahmad Ismail Ali also commanded the Egyptian Army during the 1973 October War. He is best remembered for organizing Operation Badr. He also spoiled a coup against President Sadat. He eventually died of cancer at age 57.

A Persian soldier and statesman, Pharnabazus II was the son of Pharnaces II of Phrygia and served as the hereditary satrap, or governor, of Dascylium. He proved his military acumen in the wars against both Sparta and Athens. He also unsuccessfully tried to invade Egypt.

Ethiopian slave Abū al-Misk Kāfūr initially worked for Ikshīdid dynasty founder Muḥammad ibn Ṭughj, who later promoted him to a military officer. Kāfūr had successful campaigns in Syria and the Hejaz. He eventually became the wazir of Egypt and reigned as its de facto ruler after Muḥammad’s death.

Abd al-Halim Abu Ghazala was an Egyptian military leader who served as the Minister of Defence of Egypt from 4 March 1981 to 15 April 1989. In 1982, Abu Ghazala was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal shortly after President Anwar Sadat's assassination. Abu Ghazala was seated next to Sadat when the latter was shot on 6 October 1981.

Mounir Sabet is an Egyptian sports official and former sport shooter who was part of the national shooting team in 1965. From 1990 to 1993, he served as the Egyptian Olympic Committee's president. He was elected again in 1996 and served until 2009. From 1998 to 2016, Mounir Sabet was also one of the members of the International Olympic Committee.

Ahmed Hamdi was an Egyptian engineer and army officer. He served as a general of the third army of Egypt during the October War. He was also an international sports shooter and competed in three events at the 1952 Summer Olympics. He won two gold medals at the 1951 Mediterranean Games. He was awarded the Sinai star posthumously.  

Hesham Ashmawy was a convicted terrorist who formed his own network named al-Mourabitoun. Prior to his activities as a terrorist, Ashmawy served in the Egyptian Army and is believed to have orchestrated numerous terrorist attacks on state institutions. He went on to become one of the most wanted militants and was arrested in 2018. Hesham Ashmawy was executed in 2020. 

Egyptian officer Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Munʿim Riyāḍ initially studied medicine but soon switched to military training. He later rose to be the United Arab Republic army’s chief of staff. He is known for his exploits in the Arab-Israeli wars. He was eventually killed by Israeli forces in the War of Attrition.