Editing Kuwait Armed Forces (section)

=== Operation Vantage 1961 ===
[[File:HMS Victorious (R38) aerial c1959.jpeg|thumb|[[HMS Victorious (R38)|HMS ''Victorious'']] taking part in [[Operation Vantage]] in support of Kuwait in July 1961.]]
After 62 years as a British protectorate, Kuwait declared independence in 1961. Iraq immediately claimed that Kuwait was actually an Iraqi province, and threatened to invade to implement the claim. Britain flew troops into the newly independent country to forestall Iraq, an operation called [[Operation Vantage]].<ref name=arabis>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YAd8efHdVzIC&q=kuwait+defeat+israel&pg=PA596 | title=The Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Political, Social, and Military History | publisher=ABC-CLIO, Inc. |author1=Tucker, Spencer C  |author2=Roberts, Priscilla  |name-list-style=amp | year=2008 | location=Santa Barbara, California, USA | page=596| isbn=978-1-85109-841-5 | id=(printed). (ebook)}}</ref>

In 1961, Field Marshal Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah, the Commander General of the Army was followed by the leadership of [[Brigadier General]] Mubarak Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and his deputy [[Colonel]] Saleh Mohammed Al-Sabah who stepped in to take part in Operation Vantage along with the already active [[Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade]] as the Army was put on their second alert phase.
Also during the same year, the Kuwait Flying Club was separated from the Civilian Aviation Directorate and the Kuwait Air Force was officially enacted. Also in 1961, the [[Universal Carrier]] was retired from the Kuwait Army.
Over the following years and through combat experiences; Kuwait built a small effective military force including a land force, navy, air force, national guard, existing police force and fire service directorate.<ref name=arabis />

In 1962 the Kuwait Army activated both the [[Kuwait Army|Kuwait 35th Shaheed Armored Brigade]] and the [[Kuwait Army|Kuwait 15th Mubarak Armored Brigade]] which were considered the second and third functioning armored brigades in service.

During that same year, the Kuwait Army held the first military parade in recognition of the independence of Kuwait, and the [[BAC Jet Provost]] entered into service with the Kuwaiti Air Force. Also in 1962, the Kuwait Police became an integral component of the [[Ministry of Interior (Kuwait)|Kuwait Ministry of Interior]].