Draft:Habib Almail

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Habib Almail
حبيب عبد الرضا الميل
Born	(1942-07-03)3 July 1942 Sharq, Kuwait City, Kuwait
Died	29 April 2003(2003-04-29) (aged 60) Kuwait
Education	Egyptian Naval Academy, Alexandria
Military career
Allegiance	Kuwait
Branch	Coast Guard (1961–1973) Kuwait Naval Force (1973–1991)
Rank	Major General (Staff)
Commands	Kuwait Naval Force (1974–1986)
Conflicts	1973 Samita border skirmish
Awards	Military Service Medal (Bronze, Silver, Gold) UK Leadership Medal Naval Force Commander Medal

Habib Abdulredha Almail (حبيب عبد الرضا الميل; 3 July 1942 – 29 April 2003) was a Kuwaiti major general (staff) and naval officer who served as the first commander of the Kuwait Naval Force from 1974 to 1986. Earlier in his career, he played as a footballer for Al-Uruba (later Al-Arabi SC) and appeared in early international fixtures for the Kuwait national football team.

Early life and education

Habib Abdulreda Husain Almail was born in the Sharq district of Kuwait City on 3 July 1942, to Abdulredha Husain Almail. He attended Al-Sharqiya School and Shuwaikh Secondary School before enrolling in 1959 at the Egyptian Naval Academy in Alexandria, Egypt, graduating with honors in 1961.

Football career

Almail began playing association football with Al-Uruba in 1957 and continued with the club after it was reorganized as Al-Arabi SC. He also represented the Kuwait national football team in early fixtures played outside the country.

Military career

Coast Guard and 1973 border crisis

After graduating from the naval academy in 1961, Almail joined the Coast Guard Directorate under the Ministry of Interior as a first lieutenant, serving as a naval officer commanding patrol boat squadrons.

During the March 1973 Samita border crisis with Iraq, Major Almail commanded boat squadrons that transported Kuwaiti Army reconnaissance units—including officer Fahd Borsali—to conduct maritime reconnaissance in Khor Abdullah, Warbah Island, and Bubiyan Island.

Establishment of the Kuwait Naval Force

Following the Samita incidents, Kuwait's military leadership initiated plans to form a dedicated naval branch within the armed forces. In April 1973, Chief of the General Staff Sheikh Mubarak Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah met with Almail to task him with establishing the force. On 11 June 1973, he was transferred from the Coast Guard to the Kuwaiti Army.

On 22 November 1973, Almail was appointed Head of the Naval Staff within the Military Operations Directorate, confirmed by an Amiri decree on 24 November 1973. He directed the administrative and operational setup of the new branch, drafting plans for coastal defense, fleet development, and naval facilities. Appointed as the first Commander of the Kuwait Naval Force in 1974, he led the branch until 1986 and retired from military service in 1991 at the rank of Major General (Staff).

Training and qualifications

During his service, Almail completed several specialized military courses abroad:

Advanced specialized courses at the Royal Naval College in the United Kingdom, becoming one of the first Arab officers to complete them

Watchkeeping Officer Course (United Kingdom, October 1975)

Naval Operations Course (Australia, January 1977)

Command and Staff College (United Kingdom, January 1987)

Specialized naval training programs in France and Germany

Awards and honors

Almail was awarded the Bronze, Silver, and Gold Military Service Medals, the United Kingdom Leadership Medal, and the Naval Force Commander Medal.

The main auditorium at Mohammed Al-Ahmad Naval Base was named Major General Staff Habib Almail Hall in his honor. The Kuwait Hunting and Equestrian Club also organizes an annual competition, the Major General Habib Almail Cup, in his memory.

Death

Habib Abdulredha Almail died on 29 April 2003.

References

Category:1942 births Category:2003 deaths Category:People from Kuwait City Category:Kuwaiti military personnel Category:Kuwaiti footballers Category:Al-Arabi SC (Kuwait) players Category:Kuwait men's international footballers