El Saa‘qa Forces are one of two branches under the Administration of Special Units of the Egyptian Army, alongside the Paratroopers. Established in the 1950s by young officer Galal Haridy, who was lat
Captain Galal Haridy in 1962, later promoted to Major General
Members of Combat Group 39
An El Saa‘qa soldier inspects destroyed Israeli tanks in the village of Abu Atwa.
Colonel Osama Ibrahim, commander of the 139th El Saa‘qa group which participated in the successful defense of Ismailia during the October War.
Saad el-Din Mohamed el-Husseiny el-Shazly was an Egyptian military officer. He was Egypt's chief of staff during the Yom Kippur War. He is credited with the equipping and preparation of the Egyptian
Shazly and his wife on their wedding day
Shazly, the founder of the Egyptian Paratrooper forces.
Shazly (right) with Field Marshal Ahmed Ismail and President Sadat, 1973