On Monday, October 5, 2026, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi attended a ceremony to mark the 53rd anniversary of Egypt's 1973 October War victory. He laid wreaths at the Unknown Soldier Memorial in Cairo's Nasr City, accompanied by Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defence and Military Production Lieutenant General Ashraf Salem Zaher, and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa. An honour guard saluted El-Sisi as the military band played the national anthem.
El-Sisi then laid a wreath at the memorial while the band played the Martyr's Salute, before greeting several October War commanders. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking officials, including House of Representatives Speaker Hisham Badawi, Senate Speaker Essam El-Din Farid, and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. Also in attendance were Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb, Pope Tawadros II, and Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik.
The President proceeded to lay a wreath at the tomb of former President Anwar El-Sadat, reciting Al-Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Quran, in tribute. He greeted Sadat's family and Armed Forces commanders. El-Sisi then visited the mausoleum of former President Gamal Abdel-Nasser, where he was received by Zaher and Abdel-Nasser's family. He laid a wreath and recited Al-Fatiha in tribute to Abdel-Nasser.
Egypt marks the October War anniversary on October 6, commemorating the day in 1973 when Egyptian forces crossed the Suez Canal and breached Israel's Bar Lev defensive line in occupied Sinai. The war paved the way for the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty and Israel's withdrawal from Sinai in April 1982.
As part of the anniversary celebrations, Egypt has designated Thursday, October 8, as a paid holiday for public- and private-sector and bank employees. This change from the usual October 6 holiday was announced earlier. El-Sisi also greeted Egyptians and the Armed Forces on the anniversary, highlighting the significance of the October War victory.
The Egyptian military has released a video, 'Epic of the Crossing,' to mark the October War anniversary. The video showcases the military's operations during the 1973 war. Additionally, the culture ministry has released rare footage of the 1973 victory, titled 'And Then Egypt Rejoiced.'
On the anniversary, President El-Sisi warned that challenges persist and expressed support for a Palestinian state. The Nixon Library has also opened more 1973 war files, which provide insight into the US's role during the conflict. Egypt's defence minister attended the graduation of the 163rd non-commissioned officer teachers cohort, highlighting the country's ongoing military development.
Key points
- President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi laid wreaths at the Unknown Soldier Memorial and tombs of former presidents Anwar El-Sadat and Gamal Abdel-Nasser.
- Egypt marks the October War anniversary on October 6, commemorating the 1973 war victory.
- The Egyptian government has designated October 8 as a paid holiday for public- and private-sector employees to mark the October War victory.
