Why did Prince Faisal’s forces capture Al-Aqabah during World War I?

The capture of Al-Aqabah (Aqaba) on July 6, 1917, was a strategic milestone for the Arab forces led by Fayṣal during World War I.

By seizing this port at the northernmost tip of the Red Sea, the Arab forces established a vital base for their guerrilla operations against the Ottoman Empire. This victory allowed T.E. Lawrence and the Arab units to coordinate their movements more effectively with the British campaign led by General Sir Edmund Allenby, who was advancing toward Jerusalem.

Furthermore, the capture of the port facilitated the northward movement of Arab forces along the right flank of the British armies, eventually leading to the capture of Damascus in 1918. This campaign was essential for tying down enemy forces and keeping the Damascus-to-Medina railway largely inoperable, preventing the Turks from effectively reinforcing their positions against the uprising.12