Capture of Yanbu

Battle of Yanbu
Part of Arab Revolt of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
Date December 1, 1916 - January 18, 1917 Location Yanbu, Hejaz Vilayet Result British and Arab victory. Ottomans fail to capture the city.
Belligerents
United Kingdom British Raj Arab Army	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
T. E. Lawrence Edmund Allenby Faisal I of Iraq Abdullah I of Jordan Ali of Hejaz	Ahmed Tevfik Pasha Fakhri Pasha
Strength
~4,000	2 brigades
Casualties and losses
Minimal	Heavy

The battle of Yanbu was an Ottoman attempt to recapture the city of Yanbu.

Battle of Yanbu

The Battle on Yanbu began on December 1, 1916, when Fakhri Pasha, when two brigades invaded the outskirts of the city. The Ottomans initially had repelled the Arabs from strategic points in the city. Within a couple of days Pasha controlled all routes in and out of the city. The Arab soldiers in the city began constructing a makeshift airstrip for use by British aircraft. More Arab and British reinforcements arrived and strengthened defenses in the city. Five British Navy ships also arrived to help in the defense of the city.

By December 9, Arab counter-attacks opened up the routes to the city, and flights from HMS Raven II severely attacked the Ottoman columns. Because of the Navy's presence in the ocean off of Yanbu, Pasha called off all advances on the night of December 11/12. Due to logistical errors, and counterattacks from the Arabs, the Ottomans started the retreat to Medina on January 18, 1917, thus ending the recapture of Yanbu.

References

• David Murphy (2008). The Arab Revolt 1916-18: Lawrence Sets Arabia Ablaze. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-339-1. Retrieved 30 September 2013.