Live: Egypt Sends Final Salute with Military Honors to Mubarak

A full-honored military funeral is currently held for former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who died yesterday at the age of 91.

Egypt's current President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will lead the funeral along with the two sons of the late president Alaa and Gamal, his wife Suzan Mubarak and a very big number of the state's senior officials and military commanders are attending the majestic funeral, in addition to delegations from many Arab and foreign countries.

Watch live: Mubarak's military funeral kicks off:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCikaajRAQY

Massive numbers of Mubarak supporters, clad in black and carrying posters of the former president, rallied outside Al-Mosheir Tantawy Mosque to send a final salute to Mubarak before being carried to his final resting place.

Through his military and political career, Mubarak made undeniable achievements and sacrifices

On Tuesday, President El-Sisi, Arab, world leaders offered condolences to Mubarak’s family and praised his service during the 1973 war with Israel but made no mention of his rule as president of the most populous Arab state. Egypt also announced three days of national mourning beginning, Wednesday.

The Egyptian media outlets paid tribute to Mubarak, focusing on his role in the 1973 war with Israel when Mubarak, a pilot by training, commanded Egypt’s air force.

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 served 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.

Here are also first pictures of the former president's body during the funeral