Battle of Jarab
The Battle of Jarab was fought by the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud as part of the battles for the unification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It took place in Jurab near Al-Zulfi Governorate, east of Qassim Province, in 1915, against the forces of Saud Bin Rashid, governor of Hail, with the aim of reuniting Hail.
Causes of the Battle of Jarab
Zamil Bin Sabhan, governor of Hail, had earlier made peace with King Abdulaziz, which led the King to adopt a neutral policy by not intervening in his disputes. However, Zamil’s assassination at the hands of Saud Bin Rashid changed the course of events and prompted King Abdulaziz to take action to regain Hail and confront its defiant ruler.
Preparations for the Battle of Jarab
King Abdulaziz gathered his followers from both nomadic and settled tribes and marched with them until he reached Jurab. Meanwhile, Ibn Rashid assembled his forces and advanced toward Quba, a town east of Al-Asyah Governorate in Qassim Province. As King Abdulaziz moved from Jurab toward Ibn Rashid, the two sides met near Jurab.
Beginning of the Battle of Jarab
Not long after the armies faced each other, the battle began on January 23, 1915. King Abdulaziz divided his forces into two groups, one led by himself along with his followers from the southern regions of Najd, who confronted Ibn Rashid’s forces. The King and his men gained the upper hand and forced their opponents to retreat.
End of the Battle of Jarab
After the battle, King Abdulaziz advanced to Al-Artawiyah, where a number of his followers joined him, before moving on to Buraydah. Ibn Rashid, meanwhile, retreated to Quba and then to Al-Asyah in an attempt to seize Qassim. When he learned that King Abdulaziz and his men were already in Buraydah, he withdrew northward. King Abdulaziz later moved with his forces to Al-Kahfah Town before returning to Riyadh.
Sources
History of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Uthaymeen, 2005.