Editing History of Kuwait (section)

===Mesopotamian Campaign (1914)===
{{Main|Mesopotamian campaign}}
On 6 November 1914, British offensive action began with the naval bombardment of the old fort at [[Al-Faw, Iraq|Fao]] in Iraq, located at the point where the [[Shatt-al-Arab]] meets the Persian Gulf. At the [[Fao Landing]], the British [[Indian Expeditionary Force D]] (IEF D), comprising the [[6th (Poona) Division]] led by Lieutenant General [[Arthur Barrett (Indian Army officer)|Arthur Barrett]] with Sir [[Percy Cox]] as [[Political officer (British Empire)|Political Officer]], was opposed by 350 Ottoman troops and 4 guns. After a sharp engagement, the fort was overrun. By mid-November the Poona Division was fully ashore and began moving towards the city of [[Basra]].

The same month, the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh [[Mubarak Al-Sabah]], contributed to the Allied war effort by sending forces to attack Ottoman troops at [[Umm Qasr]], [[Safwan, Iraq|Safwan]], [[Bubiyan]], and [[Basra]]. In exchange the British government recognised Kuwait as an "independent government under British protection."<ref name="Slot 2005 406">{{Harvnb|Slot|2005|pp=406–09}}</ref> There is no report on the exact size and nature of Mubarak's attack, though Ottoman forces did retreat from those positions weeks later.<ref name="Slot2005p407">{{Harvnb|Slot|2005|p=407}}</ref> Mubarak soon removed the Ottoman symbol from the Kuwaiti flag and replaced it with "Kuwait" written in Arabic script.<ref name="Slot2005p407"/> Mubarak's participation and previous exploits in obstructing the completion of the [[Berlin–Baghdad railway|Baghdad railway]] helped the British safeguard the Persian Gulf by preventing Ottoman and German reinforcement.<ref name="Slot 2005 409">{{Harvnb|Slot|2005|p=409}}</ref> He refused to rent any storage facilities to the Germans.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|last1=Anderson|first1=Frank Maloy|title=Handbook for the Diplomatic History of Europe, Asia, and Africa, 1870-1914|last2=Hershey|first2=Amos Shartle|last3=Service|first3=National Board for Historical|date=1918|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=410–411|language=en}}</ref>