Battle of Jarrab

The Battle of Jarrab was a territorial battle between the Al Saud and their traditional enemies, the Al Rashid on 24 January 1915.^[1][2] It was a proxy battle of World War I and the Second Saud-Rashidi War between the British-supported Saudis and the Ottoman-supported Rashidis.^[2]

Battle of Jarrab
Part of the Unification of Saudi Arabia and the Second Saudi-Rashidi War (1915–1918)
A picture of King Abdulaziz with Sheikh Faisal bin Sultan Al-Dawish next to him, taken by the English officer Shakespeare the day before the Battle of Jerab where Shakespeare was killed.
Date 24 January 1915[1] Location Jarrab Lake, North of town of Al Majma'ah, Arabia Result Jabal Shammar victory
Belligerents
Jabal Shammar Supported by: Ottoman Empire	Nejd and Hasa Supported by: British Empire
Commanders and leaders
Saud bin Abdulaziz Saud bin Saleh Al Sabhan †	Abdulaziz Ibn Saud William Shakespear †
Strength
1,500–1,800	2,000
Casualties and losses
Few	600

Rashidi forces led by young Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Rashid defeated the forces of Ibn Saud.^[3] The main significance of the battle was the death of Ibn Saud's British Military Advisor, Captain William Shakespear.^[4] The reason for the defeat of Ibn Saud's forces is given by both Arabic and British sources as the withdrawal of the Ajman tribe led by Dhaydan bin Hithlain from the battlefield.^[4]

The defeat and the death of William Shakespear diminished the relationship between Ibn Saud and the British changing the course of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire.^[5] It also resulted other negative conclusions for Ibn Saud, including a year-long struggle with the Ajman tribe, namely the Battle of Kanzan, and the decrease in his newly emerged prestige.^[5]

See also

• List of wars involving Saudi Arabia