Battle of Al-Regeai

Battle of Al-Regeai
DateJanuary 28th, 1928
Location Al Jahra
Result Ousting of Ikhwan Bedouins from lands of Kuwait
Belligerents
Ikhwan Kuwait
Commanders and leaders
  • Commander of Defense Cavalry & Infantry

His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

  • Ground Force Commanders

Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah  Sheikh Ali Khalifa Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah (WIA)

Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah
Strength
500 horsemen and camel cavalry combatants 60 cavalry men including 25 vehicles with armed men
Casualties and losses
Unknown Killed

His Excellency Sheikh Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah[1]
8 killed[1]

4 wounded[1]

The Battle

In 1928, the Battle of Al-Regeai (Arabic: معركة الرقعي), took place and was considered the last military battle in Kuwait's early history.[2] The battle took place in January during the reign of His Highness the 10th Ruler of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. In this battle, vehicles were used for the first time in Kuwaiti warfare.[2] The battle was brought to effect by a raid of the Ikhwan group on a number of Kuwaitis who were farming in an area designated "Umm Al-Ruweisat", located in the northwest of Al Jahra.[2] The Ikhwan force which consisted of some five hundred horsemen killed the Bedouins and looted their farms.[2]

The news reached Kuwait City and prompted the Battle Commander of Defense Cavalry and Infantry Sheikh Ali Salim Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah to form an army commanded by Sheikhs Ali Khalifa Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah, Salman Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah,[3][4][5][6] Abdullah Ahmad Al-Sabah, Sabah Al-Nasser and Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Muzayan.[2] Vehicle armed men from Al-Jahra and Kuwait city joined the battle formation contingent led by Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah.[2]

The assaulters were chased to Al-Batin valley, west of Al-Jahra and were cut off there.[2] Forces of the "Al-Kout Fortress" led by Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah fought the Ikhwan group and inflicted heavy casualties on the assaulters forcing them to retreat from the assaulted farming areas.[2] During the battle, some of the men of were charging with the cavalry and others were battling out of their respective vehicles.[2] As time passed, vehicles ran out of fuel, ammunition and were sinking in the sand. In the meantime, Sheikh Ali Khalifa Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah was injured in the leg and remained in the valley attaining the injured.[2]

As time passed Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah;.[4][5][6][7] led the cavalry on a mission to locate and rescue Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah and his soldiers.[2] To the disappointment, the vehicle of Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah was found stuck and raided by the enemy.[2]

After Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah was killed the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ordered that defense cavalry and infantry in Al-Jahra outside the wall of Kuwait fall under the command of Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah.[2][4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense, (Section Arabic Read Kuwait Armed Forces/ الجيش الكويتي)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 , Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense,(Section Arabic Read Kuwait Armed Forces/ الجيش الكويتي)
  3. Kuwait National Guard Archives, Sheikh Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah and Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia; Retrieved March 4, 2015
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 , Official Documented Biography & Accomplishments of Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah ( featured at "U.N.E.S.C.O (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization) ceremony award")
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah (b.1898-d.1996)
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 ,His Highness the Emir sponsors Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah "U.N.E.S.C.O (United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization) ceremony award"
  7. Kuwait National Guard Archives, Early Defense Cavaly & Infantry led by Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah; Retrieved March 3, 2015 (Arabic Read)