Battle of Al-Regeai

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Battle of Al-Regeai
Part of Ikhwan Revolt
Date 28 January 1928 Location Al Jahra, Kuwait Result Ikhwan victory Kuwaiti and British retreat [2]
Belligerents
Ikhwan Mutayr (Mostly from braih branch of Mutayr)	Sheikhdom of Kuwait United Kingdom[1] Mandatory Iraq
Commanders and leaders
Faisal Al-Dawish Ali ibn ashwan al aouboui (Sheikh of Alabayat branch of Braih of Mutayr)[3] Sheikh falah mazyad ibn damkh Al hameli (sheikh of hawamil branch of Braih of Mutayr)	Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Ali Salem Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah  † Sheikh Ali Khalifa Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah (WIA) Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah † Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (POW)
Strength
500 horsemen and camel cavalry combatants	225 cavalry men including 25 vehicles with armed men
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Heavy 6 pilots Killed [1]

The Battle of Al-Regeai (Arabic: معركة الرقعي) or Battle of Atheriyat, acknowledged as the final significant military engagement in the early historical period of Kuwait, occurred on 28 January 1928. It transpired under the rule of Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the 10th ruler of the Sheikhdom of Kuwait. Marking a technological milestone, the battle featured the first utilisation of vehicles in Kuwaiti combat. The conflict was instigated by an Ikhwan raid against Kuwaiti farmers at Umm Al-Ruweisat, situated northwest of Al Jahra. Approximately five hundred Ikhwan horsemen launched the attack, leading to the occupation of the farms.

The news reached Kuwait City and prompted the Battle General Commander of Defense and Security Forces, 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,^[4][5] Abdullah Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Sabah Al-Nasser and Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Muzayan. Vehicles and soldiers from Al Jahra and Kuwait City joined the battle formation contingent led by Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

The assaulters were chased to Al-Batin Valley, west of Al-Jahra and were cut off there. 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. During the battle, some of the men charged with the cavalry and others battled out of their respective vehicles. As time passed, vehicles ran out of fuel, and 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.

As time passed, Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah, led the cavalry on a mission to locate and rescue Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah and his soldiers.^[5][6] To the disappointment, Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah's vehicle was found stuck and raided.

Following the demise of Sheikh Ali Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah ordered that defence cavalry and infantry in Al-Jahra outside the defensive wall of Kuwait fall under the command of Sheikh Abdullah Jaber Al-Abdullah II Al-Sabah.^[5]