The origins of El Saa‘qa date back to the early 1950s. In 1954, Egyptian officers Galal Haridy and Nabil Shukri were sent to the United States to attend the
US Ranger School, where they received training in commando and airborne operations. Upon his return Haridy proposed the creation of a special operations unit in Egypt modeled on what he had observed in the United States. General Ali Amer, then commander of the Eastern Command, approved the idea, and the first training course was established at
Abu Ageila in Sinai in 1955, with Haridy serving as senior instructor. The unit was trained in advanced combat techniques, parachuting, and specialized operations, forming the foundation of Egypt’s modern special forces. Combat Group 39 began its activities during the
War of Attrition, initially composed of a mix of El Saa‘qa, naval, and army personnel under the guidance of Brigadier General Mustafa Kamal Hussein. During this period, the group carried out approximately 80 operations, including raids, sabotage, and reconnaissance missions, such as the retaliatory operation for the death of General Abdel Moneim Riyad in 1968 and attacks on
El Tor Airport and electric missile sites. It also captured the first Israeli prisoner on 26 August 1968 and seized weapons and ammunition during these operations. Combat Group 39 maintained a close collaboration with the Sinai Arab organization, which consisted of local Bedouins and civilians trained by Egyptian intelligence for operations behind enemy lines. The unit later played a significant role in the
1973 October War, conducting frequent raids and strikes across Sinai, including attacks on oil installations, airfields, and Israeli positions, causing substantial enemy losses in personnel and equipment. The island was defended by about 100 Egyptian soldiers, including 60 El Saa‘qa commandos from the 93rd Battalion, with the remainder from the
Egyptian Navy and technical staff. The assaulting Israeli force consisted of the Paratroopers Brigade’s 202nd Battalion, and its elite reconnaissance company, as well as Shayetet 13 naval commandos, supported by airpower. The battle lasted approximately 36 hours. Israel, in turn, claims 10 Israeli casualties during the operation. Israeli officials also claimed that approximately 70 Egyptians were killed, including both military personnel stationed on Shadwan and sailors on the torpedo boats that were sunk. Israeli forces evacuated on 23 January, demolishing most structures except the lighthouse, and withdrawing with 62 Egyptian prisoners and a radar system.
Role during the October War During the 1973
October War, the El Saa‘qa Forces were involved in supporting the main infantry crossing of the
Suez Canal and securing key positions. Initially, El Saa‘qa units had only limited defensive plans, which were fully developed by 1972 to include assessments of Israeli force strength, deployment, and the allocation of Egyptian forces. The units also participated in extensive deception operations, including repeated movements to areas such as Wadi Sallam and the
Red Sea, intended to mislead Israeli forces into believing these were routine exercises. As part of a deception plan ordered by President
Anwar Sadat, some El Saa‘qa units were deployed in apparent “training” exercises and false movements, designed to mislead the enemy about the real timing and location of operations. Their actions delayed and weakened Israeli attempts to reinforce positions, contributing decisively to the success of the Egyptian army’s crossing of the Suez Canal in
Operation Badr. During the war, these forces engaged Israeli units directly, setting ambushes in strategic locations such as the Abu Atwa area and the surrounding mango orchards, disrupting enemy advances, destroying tanks, and capturing soldiers. El Saa‘qa units were organized into several groups during the war, including the 127th, 129th, and 132nd groups in the
Red Sea region, with the 139th and 145th serving as general reserves. These forces were tasked with engaging enemy reserves, delaying reinforcements, and securing the flanks of the main Egyptian infantry forces, which crossed the canal with limited armor and heavy equipment. Despite the initial confusion, the El Saa‘qa, alongside paratroopers of the 85th Battalion, reinforced Egyptian defenses and helped repel the Israeli attack. By nightfall on October 20, Israeli forces had made no progress, and Egyptian troops were in control.
Sinai insurgency Following the 2013 coup, the Egyptian military launched large-scale counterinsurgency operations in the Sinai Peninsula, marking their first sustained engagement against Islamist militants in the region. During the campaign, the El Saa‘qa operated alongside
Unit 999 and conventional forces, conducting high-risk raids, securing militant strongholds, and targeting key insurgent figures. They were deployed in operations under joint command with military intelligence officers, often in urban and populated areas. Despite their elite training, their effectiveness was constrained by coordination issues, reliance on conscripted support, and the lack of integrated counterinsurgency doctrine. The El Saa‘qa's operations contributed to significant militant casualties, but these tactical successes occurred within a broader campaign characterized by mass arrests, forced relocations, and human rights abuses. By 2019, the military had largely pacified the peninsula.
Battle of El Bart In the early hours of July 7th, 2017, around 4:00 AM, 60 Egyptian soldiers including members of the 103rd El Saa‘qa Battalion defended a checkpoint in southern Rafah, which leads to the
Tarabin Bedouin village of El Bart, against a coordinated militant ambush by
ISIS. Around 100 heavily armed attackers, including vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, attempted to overrun the position and raise their flags. The assault began with a suicide car bombing at the checkpoint, followed by heavy gunfire from dozens of masked attackers on foot. The attackers also arrived in approximately 12 armed vehicles, attempting to encircle the checkpoint. Colonel
Ahmed Mansi, commander of the battalion, directed defensive operations from the roof of a building within the compound while actively engaging the militants. Despite being heavily outnumbered and under continuous fire, the defenders maintained their positions through disciplined small-unit tactics and direct engagement, preventing the attackers from capturing the checkpoint. The firefight lasted into the early morning and exacted a heavy toll on the defenders, with Mansi and several members of the battalion killed in action, Despite the losses, the defenders killed over 40 militants and destroyed six enemy vehicles, successfully preventing the militants from seizing this strategic point, which links central Sinai with
Rafah and
Sheikh Zuweid. Mansi’s life and service have been commemorated in media and public memorials. His biography was depicted in the television series El Ekhteyar (The Choice), and a floating bridge in
Port Said was named in his honor. ==Training==