Osama Askar

Osama Askar
Name	Osama Askar
Native name	عصام عسكر
Birth date	1957
Birth place	Cairo, Egypt
Rank	Field Marshal
Allegiance	Egypt
Branch	Egyptian Army
Serviceyears	1978–2021
Unit	Second Field Army (Egypt), Commandos
Battles	Gulf War, 2011 Egyptian Revolution

Osama Askar

Osama Askar is an Egyptian Field Marshal (Egypt) and senior Egyptian Army officer who served in key command and staff positions during periods of regional tension involving Egypt, Israel, Palestine, and neighboring states. He became prominent through roles linking the Second Field Army (Egypt), the Suez Canal Zone, and Egypt’s relations with multilateral institutions such as the Arab League and the African Union. Askar's career intersected with major events including the Gulf War, the aftermath of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, and fluctuating security dynamics in the Sinai Peninsula and along the Egypt–Israel border.

Early life and education

Askar was born in Cairo and completed preparatory training at institutions tied to the Egyptian Military Academy and the Nasser Military Academy, aligning his early trajectory with notable Egyptian officers such as Hossam Khairallah and predecessors from the 1973 Arab–Israeli War generation. He pursued advanced command and staff courses at the Command and Staff College (Egypt), attended joint exercises with delegations from United States Central Command, and engaged in professional programs affiliated with the Armored Corps establishment. Askar also participated in international seminars hosted by the NATO Defense College framework and undertook studies in strategy linked to the Ministry of Defense (Egypt), connecting him with contemporaries from the Jordan Armed Forces and the Saudi Arabian National Guard.

Military career

Askar’s early service included postings in armored and mechanized formations, where he progressed through company and battalion commands within formations that traced lineage to veterans of the Yom Kippur War (1973). He served in operational theaters during the Gulf War as part of coalition-aligned contingents and maintained liaison roles with units involved in border security along the Sinai Peninsula. Rising to staff appointments, Askar commanded divisional-level forces and later took leadership of the Second Field Army (Egypt), operating in areas proximate to the Suez Canal and the Gaza Strip. His tenure coincided with cooperative security arrangements with Israel pursuant to the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty and coordination with United Nations Emergency Force II mandates in the Sinai.

In senior staff roles, Askar was involved with planning and execution of counterinsurgency and stability operations responding to threats posed by groups linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and local militias active in North Sinai. He worked with interagency partners from the Central Security Forces (Egypt), the State Security Service (Egypt), and international partners from United States European Command and United Kingdom Ministry of Defence delegations. Askar’s operational approach reflected doctrines shaped by experiences shared with commanders from the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Libyan National Army, and advisers from the French Army.

Tenure as Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces

Appointed Chief of Staff amid post-2011 restructuring, Askar oversaw force modernization and force posture adjustments affecting the Second Field Army (Egypt), naval coordination along the Mediterranean Sea, and air-ground integration with the Egyptian Air Force. His period in senior leadership engaged directly with implementation of security arrangements alongside Israel, cooperative border management with Palestinian Authority counterparts, and coordination with multinational missions such as the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai. As Chief of Staff, he supervised procurement and training initiatives involving platforms sourced from suppliers including the United States Department of Defense, the Russian Federation Armed Forces, and European defense industries tied to the NATO supply chain.

During his stewardship, Askar navigated crises that involved diplomacy with the United States and coordination with the European Union on counterterrorism, while managing domestic expectations shaped by interactions with political actors like figures from the Muslim Brotherhood (Egypt) epoch and post-revolution administrations. He also engaged with military delegations from the People's Liberation Army and participated in bilateral talks with counterparts from the Turkish Armed Forces and the Hellenic National Defence General Staff.

Political involvement and public profile

Though principally a career military officer, Askar’s profile included public-facing roles that intersected with Egyptian political developments, bringing him into contact with leaders from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Egypt), presidential administrations, and regional summits of the Arab League. His statements and appearances were often covered by media organizations that reported on security policy, including outlets linked to the Ministry of Defence (Egypt) press office, and his engagements drew analysis from think tanks such as the International Institute for Strategic Studies and regional research centers in Cairo. Askar’s interactions with civil institutions occurred against the backdrop of constitutional changes and parliamentary dynamics involving figures from the House of Representatives (Egypt) and policy debates on national security.

Awards and honors

Askar received military decorations and honors conferred by the Egyptian Armed Forces and state institutions, reflecting service in operational theaters and contributions to regional security cooperation. He was acknowledged in ceremonies alongside recipients from allied militaries such as delegations from the United States Armed Forces, the Russian Armed Forces, and partner states within the Arab League. His awards corresponded to career milestones celebrated in forums attended by dignitaries from the Ministry of Defense (Egypt), representatives of the Presidency of Egypt, and international military attachés based in Cairo.

Category:Egyptian military personnel Category:Field marshals