Egypt’s Minister of Defence Sedky Sobhy on Sunday announced a reshuffle of several senior military positions, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

Major General Salah El-Badry, the head of military intelligence, was replaced by Major General Mohamed El-Shahat, the head of the second army.

Major General Nasser El-Assy replaced Major General El-Shahat as the head of the second army. Major General El-Assy was the second army’s chief of staff.

The second army is the regional division stationed along the Suez Canal and in North Sinai. The division has been engaged in a war against militants in Sinai which has intensified since the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. 

Rear Admiral Osama Mounir replaced Rear Admiral Osama El-Gendy as the commander of the navy. Mounir was the navy chief of staff. Rear Admiral Ahmed Khaled replaced Mounir as the navy chief of staff. 

Egypt’s naval forces are participating in the current Saudi-led joint regional military operation to halt the advance of Iranian-backed Houthi fighters in Yemen.