Conquest of al-Hasa

Conquest of al-Hasa
Part of the Unification of Saudi Arabia
Date April 1913 Location al-Hasa, Arabia Result Emirate of Riyadh (Saudi) victory Incorporation of al-Hasa into Saudi Emirate
Belligerents
Ottoman Empire Supported by: British Empire	Emirate of Riyadh Ikhwan
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Abdulaziz Ibn Saud
Units involved
Ottoman garrison	Ikhwan militia[1]

The Conquest of al-Hasa was achieved by the forces of Ibn Saud with support from the Ikhwan^[1] in April 1913.^[2] The oasis of al-Hasa was conquered from an Ottoman garrison, which had controlled the area since 1871.^[3]

The Shia religious community leaders of al-Hasa negotiated a surrender and recognition of the Saudi political authority in exchange for leniency and religious freedom, which was granted at the time by Ibn Saud.^[1]

The Ottomans swiftly acknowledged the loss of al-Hasa, and recognized al-Hasa and Nejd as being under the rule of Ibn Saud.^[2]

The Ottomans' attempt to regain Al-Ahsa

In Bahrain, the British blamed the Turks for submitting to Ibn Saud and warned them of the consequences of the wrath of the supreme Ottoman authorities. They encouraged them to return to Al-Ahsa and enticed them with support and assistance. The Ottoman soldiers were deceived by the British’s advice and promise, so they chartered ships and returned to the port of Al-Uqair. They were confronted by a company headed by Bin Nader from Ibn Saud’s forces and clashed with them in a bitter fight that resulted in a number of deaths and the capture of thirty Ottoman soldiers. The news reached Ibn Saud while he was in Al-Ahsa, so he went out to Al-Uqair and released the Turkish prisoners. He sent the rest of the soldiers to Bahrain and wrote to the ruler of Bahrain and to the English political advisor there blaming them. They answered him: “The Turkish soldiers left Bahrain, heading to Basra, and we do not know who they were.”^[4]