The Faculty of Arts celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of the glorious October Victory and honors its most prominent symbol, Major General Nasr Muhammad Salem, former head of the Armed Forces Reconnaissance Service.

Under the patronage of Prof. Ghada Farouk, Acting President of Ain Shams University, on the occasion of the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the glorious October Victory, Prof. Hanan Kamel, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, at Ain Shams University, honored Major General Staff Officer. Nasr Muhammad Nasr Salem, former head of the Armed Forces Reconnaissance Service, presented him with the faculty shield as a culmination of his efforts in the victory of October, as part of the activities of the symposium: “The Victory of October,” which was held on Monday, October 9, 2023.

Prof. Hanan Kamel opened the symposium, welcoming His Excellency Major General Staff Officer. Nasr Salem and his role in achieving the October Victory and in educating the present and future generations of young people. She also emphasized the faculty administration’s keenness to celebrate the anniversary of national victories, most notably the glorious October Victory, annually in commemoration of this anniversary of which we are all proud.

Prof. Hanan Kamel confirmed the cognitive impact that these educational seminars bring to university youth, making them aware of the necessity of knowing the history and pride of their country’s great army. She also called on students to arm themselves with knowledge, search for correct information from its sources, and not believe malicious rumors that reduce the value of the great victory.

For his part, Prof. Mohamed Ibrahim, Vice Dean of the Faculty for Education and Student Affairs, stressed the importance of hosting the Dean of the Faculty of great military figures and valiant national symbols in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the glorious October Victory, one of Egypt’s brave heroes, as an eyewitness from the heart of the war. Let us remember together the glories and victories. Talk about the October Victory is endless, and there are always surprises. Secrets, discussions, and lessons learned from the war, in order to consolidate Egyptian identity and pride in the national spirit and the authentic elements that only difficult situations reveal.

Major General Staff Officer. Nasr Muhammad Salem spoke, stressing that the coming days will witness the release of important documents related to the October War and many surprises that were not mentioned before, appreciating the value of deception and concealment in some tactical matters of war that are never announced because the battlefield does not change, the same enemy and the same place.

He also explained the importance of secrecy, the strength of faith and will, mastery of work, and striving to achieve victory.

Major General Staff Officer. Nasr Salem confirmed that the surprise of the October War was represented by five aspects: unexpected timing, place, weapon, and method, and above all, Egypt’s success in concealing its will.

Salem said: The element of surprise constituted 50% of the October 6 battle, as the Egyptian army was the one who took action, while the enemy army was the one who only reacted.

He stressed that the Egyptian army forces completely succeeded in achieving the principle of surprise, and this became clear when the enemy army built the impregnable Bar Lev Line, which was classified as the strongest defensive line in history up to the present time. Some thought at the time that the Egyptians would be disappointed in the face of the Bar Lev Line.

Major General Nasr Salem reviewed the memories of the war and the unforgettable history and said: The mountain was not devoid of Egyptian reconnaissance forces for 6 years.

He added: The reconnaissance elements remained as they were after the defeat of 1967, as they continued to transmit the enemy’s movements and their missions sometimes continued for a full 180 days behind enemy lines. He pointed out that had it not been for the decision to withdraw in June 1976, the enemy would not have been able to reach Al-Arish or the straits.

He stressed that the strategic opening by the Egyptian Air Force, which allows fighters to arrive at the front from different airports at the same time, was shocking to the enemy and to the great powers, which also did not expect the success of the crossing with such intensity in 6 hours and the steadfastness of helicopters and fighters with limited capabilities and capabilities in front of the advanced Phantom aircraft, and even superiority over them.

Major General Staff Officer. Nasr Salem pointed out that the October War was a military action to open the doors of peace and stability in the Arab region after expelling the Israeli aggression, pointing out that President Mohamed Anwar Sadat announced in all international forums that Egypt would not leave its land in the hands of the enemy, no matter how long it took.

He added that Kissinger assured the late President Mohamed Anwar Sadat of Israel's readiness, after the successful Egyptian crossing of the canal, to negotiate and withdraw from all of Egypt's territory.

Major General Staff Officer. Nasr Salem said that Sadat was decisive during the peace negotiations to liberate all Egyptian lands and not part of them. Therefore, we can say that Sadat was a military leader with a vision ahead of his time and that the success of the Egyptian army stemmed from the slogan he adopted at the time: “Either victory or martyrdom.” Likewise, we raised Slogan: “If death is not inevitable, it is a shame to die as a coward.”

He continued: Although the enemy army had weapons that exceeded the capabilities of the Egyptian army at the time of the October War, the Egyptian army was then able to apply the principles of war in October despite the enemy’s possession of nuclear capabilities.

At the end of the symposium, Major General Nasr answered the students’ inquiries and questions about the glorious October victory.