Egypt Declares 3-Day Mourning for Death of Mubarak

Egypt's presidency has declared a three-day mourning period in Egypt for the death of the former president Hosni Mubarak, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 91, after a long battle with the disease.

This will come into effect starting tomorrow, Wednesday, (February 26).

A military funeral will be held for the former president tomorrow, Wednesday after Dhuhr prayer at El-Mosheer Tantawy Mosque, in the fifth settlement (El Tagamoa El Khames).

Mubarak is entitled to receive a military funeral by law no.35/1975 for serving as a commander of the Egyptian Air Force during the October 6 War in 1973.

It is worth mentioning that Mubarak was born on May 4th, 1928 in Egypt, and he stayed in power for three decades ended by the popular uprising of January 25th, 2011.

On 2 February 1949, he joined the Air Force Academy, gaining his commission as a pilot officer on 13 March 1950 and eventually receiving a bachelor’s degree in aviation sciences.

Mubarak severed as a commander in the Egyptian Air Force from 1972-1975, before becoming president following the assassination of former President Anwar Sadat, with whom he served as his vice-president.

Many Egyptians regarded the former president as a war hero for serving as a commander of the Egyptian Air Force during the October 6 War in 1973.

Mubarak served as an Egyptian Air Force officer in various formations and units; he spent two years in a Spitfire fighter squadron. Sometime in the 1950s, he returned to the Air Force Academy as an instructor, remaining there until early 1959.

From February 1959 to June 1961, he undertook further training in the Soviet Union, attending a Soviet pilot training school in Moscow and another at Kant Air Base near Bishkek in the Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic.

In 1964, Mubarak gained a place at the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow. On his return to Egypt, he served as a wing commander, then as a base commander; he commanded the Cairo West Air Base in October 1966 then briefly commanded the Beni Suef Air Base.

Mubarak became the Air Force Academy’s commander in November 1967 when he was credited with doubling the number of Air Force pilots and navigators during the pre-October War years. Two years later, he became Chief of Staff for the Egyptian Air Force.

In 1972, he became Commander of the Air Force and Egyptian Deputy Minister of Defense. On 6 October 1973, at the breakout of the October War, the Egyptian Air Force launched a surprise attack on Israeli soldiers on the east bank of the Suez Canal.

Egyptian pilots hit 90% of their targets, making Mubarak a national hero. The next year he was promoted to Air Chief Marshal in recognition of service during the October War of 1973 against Israel. Mubarak was credited in some publications for Egypt’s initial strong performance in the war.