‘Al-Bashoush’: Eng officer who prepared for martyrdom

Egypt’s Armed Forces have released a new episode of the documentary series “Hekayat Batal” (A Hero’s Story), telling the story of Captain Mohamed Hany Lasheen, a military engineer officer remembered by comrades for his constant smile, devotion to duty and relentless pursuit of knowledge on the battlefield. The episode, published on the official pages of military spokesperson Brigadier General Staff Gharib Abdel Hafez, presents Lasheen not simply as another fallen officer, but as a symbol of the mindset that shaped many of Egypt’s counter-terrorism fighters in Sinai. Among colleagues, he was known as “Al-Bashoush” — “The Cheerful One”. Yet behind the warm personality was an officer deeply aware of the dangers surrounding his mission. According to commanders featured in the documentary, Lasheen believed a military engineer should never be surprised by an explosive device. From the moment he joined his unit, he constantly asked questions, studied operational details and pushed senior officers to teach him more. “One phrase he repeated all the time was: ‘I want you to teach me,’” one commander recalled. That determination was not simple ambition. It reflected an understanding that engineering officers in Sinai often walked directly into danger before anyone else. Opening road Lasheen joined a specialised military engineering unit formed to confront terrorists attacks in Sinai, where roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices became among the deadliest threats facing troops. In such operations, engineering officers were responsible for opening safe paths through mined roads, mountainous terrain and isolated valleys used by terrorists as hideouts. On the morning of 26 February 2018, a military force moved towards terrorists positions in the rugged area of Jabal Al-Halal, a mountainous region long regarded as a refuge for terrorists fleeing Sheikh Zuweid, Rafah and Al-Arish. The convoy consisted of five military vehicles. Captain Mohamed Hany Lasheen travelled at the front. As usual, he stepped out to carry out engineering security procedures, searching roads for hidden explosives and ensuring safe movement for the force behind him. But during the operation, heavy clashes erupted between troops and terrorists. Amid intense gunfire. Lasheen was shot. Radio communications captured the urgency of the moment. “Officer Mohamed Hany Lasheen has been hit, “we need evacuation support,” one voice called out. Reinforcements moved immediately towards the area, including Brigadier General Ahmed Abdel Khaleq al-Gaafari, who arrived with an ambulance unit despite extremely difficult evacuation conditions involving sand terrain, mountainous roads and continuing gunfire. Lasheen was transferred first to a field hospital, then later to Suez Military Hospital. Martyrdom chooses its men The documentary also recounts how fighting continued even during the evacuation effort. According to fellow soldiers, Egyptian forces intensified pressure on terrorists positions and succeeded in killing several attackers. Witnesses said Brigadier General al-Gaafari himself continued pursuing terrorists until he was also wounded, remaining attached to his weapon until the final moments. But much of the episode focuses not on combat alone, but on the personality Lasheen left behind. Comrades describe an officer whose smile rarely disappeared, and whose passion for teaching others matched his commitment to learning himself. “He never withheld information from anyone,” one colleague said. “He was always ready to help.” For those who served beside him, his memory remains tied not only to sacrifice, but to the attitude with which he approached military life. Whenever his name is mentioned, one friend says the same phrase returns to him: “Martyrdom chooses its men.” The post ‘Al-Bashoush’: Eng officer who prepared for martyrdom appeared first on Egyptian Gazette.