Psych Warfare

Psychological warfare, or psych warfare, is the strategic use of information, media, and perception manipulation to weaken an opponent’s morale, unity, and decision-making without necessarily engaging in direct combat.

It can involve propaganda, rumor-spreading, selective leaks, false narratives, and targeted media campaigns. The aim is to shape public opinion, sow confusion, and erode trust in leadership or institutions.

Egypt has faced persistent psychological warfare for decades, often as part of broader regional and geopolitical struggles.

From the aftermath of the 1967 war—when Israeli media and intelligence worked to project Egypt as permanently weakened—through the challenges of countering extremist propaganda in the 1990s and 2000s, Egypt has had to fight narratives designed to fracture its social fabric.

More recently, social media campaigns, fake news, and coordinated foreign messaging have attempted to portray the state as incapable of governance, undermine the military’s standing, and incite unrest.

These attacks often accompany economic pressure, diplomatic isolation attempts, or proxy conflicts in neighboring states, aiming to create an environment of internal doubt and instability.

Egypt’s resilience has depended on national unity, control of its information space, and the ability to expose and counter hostile narratives before they take root in public consciousness.

How to find out if you are under the influence of a media controlled by hostile intelligence services:

first: What are the hostile intelligence services doing with the media

Intelligence services do not always need to recruit agents in the classical sense. Very often used “gray war " tools such as:

Spread rumors carefully within the communication platforms and make fun of national figures like heavily mocking the government or Ex president Gamal Abd Elnasser.

Reorienting public opinion towards its goals :

Trying to start chaos and violence through social media and focusing on the economic situation to make people more angrier.

Building a state of discontent and doubt in national institutions.

By spreading lies and keep telling that foreign media agencies only are truthful and that anything that comes out of the public media is fake.

Creating imaginary enemies and distracting from the real enemy

Like saying that Egypt is fighting Gaza through stravation strategies while Israel is the real threat.

Spreading concepts that seem revolutionary but lead to chaos or the collapse of states

Second: signs that you may be under the influence of intelligence-oriented media

1. Constant feeling of anger without a full understanding of the reasons

You're angry all the time, but you don't know exactly what's going on behind every event.

He pushes you emotionally, not mentally.

2. You lose confidence in everything, especially in your institutions and your army

The media begins by convincing you that:

“The enemy is not Israel, but your national leadership.”

“Your army participates in the conspiracy, not defends you.”

Your organizations are gradually demonized without offering an effective alternative.

3. One novel is repeated and repeated everywhere

The same "trend “or story is repeated in certain channels, with the same expressions.

There is excessive sympathy for a particular party, no matter what he committed, and complete demonization of another party, no matter what he gave.

4. Obvious facts are ignored or distorted

For example: Israel's violations or occupation are not mentioned, while the practices of Egypt or Jordan on the border are exaggerated.

Any internal success is ridiculed or distorted.

5. Repeated calls for protest and vandalism without alternatives

“Bring down the regime,” “seize the embassies,” "open the borders," but without clear plans for the future.

You are pushed towards chaos in the name of”liberation".

6. Systematically attacking national symbols

Armies are portrayed as” agents “or” traitors", not protectors of the Fatherland.

People's trust in official and constitutional institutions is being weakened

How to fortify yourself

Check every piece of information from more than one source

Always ask: who is the beneficiary

Watch who makes you angry,and why

Support constructive criticism, not mob chaos

Be patriotic: it does not mean to justify a mistake, but to preserve the homeland in the face of those who want to destroy it

Conclusion

The most dangerous weapon in modern warfare is not the tank, but the poisoned tip.

And hostile intelligence does not invade you with armies, but enters your mind through your phone.

If you find yourself hating your homeland, trusting your enemy, losing faith in your future... you may have become a victim of a subtle psychological war.