Abd al-Halim Abu Ghazala

Abd al-Halim Abu Ghazala was a prominent Egyptian military and political figure who played a key role in the country’s defense and foreign affairs. He joined the Egyptian army in 1949 and participated in several wars against Israel, rising to the rank of field marshal. He was also a close ally of President Anwar Sadat and survived the assassination attempt that killed Sadat in 1981. He became the defense minister of Egypt and held the position until 1989, when he was dismissed by President Hosni Mubarak due to allegations of corruption and involvement in illegal arms deals. He was known for his strong anti-communist views and his support for the Afghan mujahideen against the Soviet invasion. He also developed a close relationship with the United States and secured a deal to co-produce US M1A1 Abrams tanks in Egypt. He was considered a potential successor to Mubarak, but he never challenged him politically. He died of cancer in 2008 at the age of 78.