Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (; 10 August 1945 – 2 August 1990) was a member of the Kuwaiti ruling family, a military officer, and sports administrator. He was the founder of the Asian Handball Federation and Kuwait Olympic Committee. Fahad was killed by the Iraqi military on the first day of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.

Early life Fahad was the son of Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and a Baloch woman, Fatima Mohammed Albalooshi, and was educated in Kuwait for his primary and secondary schooling.

Military career Fahad was commissioned in the Kuwait Armed Forces on April 22, 1963 as an Aspirant. He pursued further military training at Sandhurst Military Academy in the United Kingdom on 30 July 30, 1964. Fahad was subsequently promoted to Second lieutenant on 19 July 1965 and First lieutenant on 1 March 1967. On 7 June 1970 he was promoted to the rank of Captain.

Military commands

Acting commander by delegation of the 2nd Commando Battalion, Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade attached to the Yarmouk Brigade Staff Officer in the Kuwait Emiri Guard on 25 November 1968 in the rank of First-Lieutenant

Fatah membership and Six-Day War, 1967 Fahad was a member of the Palestinian group Fatah when it was headquartered in Jordan and later when it moved to Lebanon. In June 1967, the Kuwait Armed Forces were engaged outside the borders of Kuwait for the first time, during the Six-Day War between Israel and four Arab countries (Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Jordan). Fahad took part in the Six-Day War attached to the Yarmouk Brigade of the Kuwait Army; as acting commander by delegation of the 2nd Commando Battalion, on the Egyptian front.

In 1971 Fahad was arrested as a fighter in Lebanon and repatriated to Kuwait. In 1988, Fahad invited Michel Platini (at the time the French football team's captain) to play for Kuwait in a preparatory match against the USSR. Platini played for 21 minutes, and was framed by the Kuwaitis as an apology for his unethical behavior six years before.

Death Fahad was killed by the Iraqi military at Dasman Palace, the primary residence of his brother, Emir Sheikh Jaber, on the first day of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, 2 August 1990. The exact circumstances of his death remain unclear. According to one account, he arrived late at the palace, which had been designated as a meeting point for a planned escape from Kuwait with his brother the Emir and the Crown Prince. By the time he arrived, the others had already departed, and the Iraqi forces had taken control of the palace and killed him. Another version, suggests he died while defending the palace. A further account claims he arrived at the palace, engaged in a verbal altercation with an Iraqi guard, and was subsequently shot.

Personal life Fahad was married and fathered five sons and one daughter. One of his sons, Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, succeeded him as the president of the Olympic Council of Asia and the Asian Handball Federation, and was also a member of the International Olympic Committee.

Honours and awards National Military Service Medal, Bronze Medal of Military Duty, First Class

Foreign Order of military courage of Egypt, First Class Order of Republic of Tunisia Order of Republic of Yemen, First Class Honorary Doctorate from Helwan University, Egypt Olympic Gold Medal from the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Appreciation Decoration on behalf of UNESCO Honorary Doctorate in Law from University of Seoul, South Korea Honorary citizenship of Japan