Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities Assem El Gazzar mourned the loss of Minister of Military Production Mohamed Al-Assar, who passed away on July 6 after an illustrious military career, Invest-Gate reports.

On behalf of the housing ministry, El Gazzar extended his deep condolences for the death of Al-Assar, who died at the age of 74 after battling cancer, according to a recent official statement.

On July 7, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi led a military funeral for the late minister. He had served as a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which governed Egypt after the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak in 2011, besides assuming office as Minister of Military production in 2015.

On his official Twitter account, El-Sisi recently stated that Al-Assar was “one of the most sincere men to face challenges for the great homeland [Egypt]. At the forefront of warriors defending it at a unique and special moment in its history.”