XXX Международный конгресс ИИСАА. 19–21 июня 2019 г. Т. 1

Секция II 100 XXX Международный Конгресс по источниковедению и историографии стран Азии и Африки sphere of interest. District of Mersina andAlexandretta, lands stretching to the west of Damascus were the exact areas included into the French sphere of influence. This was not the sole condition of the United Kingdom. They also demanded to leave Bagdad and Basra for special consideration. The offer was met with discontent by the Arabian part and the matter was postponed for discussion at a later date. In June 1916 Sherif Hussein launched a revolt against Ottoman Empire with around 50.000 men. On the 10th of June Arabs attacked Jeddah with the support of French and British naval forces maintaining control on the Red Sea. The rebellious troops could seize some coastal cities, but a direct attack toMedina city was prevented by the glorious Ottoman troops in October 1916. Meanwhile, Sherif Hussein proclaimed himself “King of allArab world”. English and French representatives didn’t accept this and proclaimed him an independent ruler — “King of Hijaz”. Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud— another political figure and future king of Saudi Arabia was anxious about Hussein proclaiming himself king of all Arab world. For handling the problem, the British representative in the Gulf invited Abdul-Aziz to Kuwait, promised to give him financial support and provide himwith war supplies. In return, he was guaranteed that Hussein would not talk on behalf of Arab nations as the King of the Arab world. The British government sent captain Thomas Edward Lawrence who provided Royal Naval support to rebellions in order to defend the southern oil port cityYanbu al Bahr. Lawrence managed to convince Arabs not to attack Medina, but to sever Hejaz Railway. During the first months of 1917 the number of Hashemite forces reached 70.000 and their weapons — 28.000 pieces. The occupation of Aqaba (June 1917) was only possible because the Arabs used quite a huge number of weapons from British and French ammunition depots. In September 1918 general Allenby charged Arabs with a special task during Battle of Megiddo taking place in the north part of the Ottoman Palestine. When Entente powers consisting of British, French, Indian, Australian and New-Zealand forces attacked the German-Ottoman positions from the front, Arabs unexpectedly trusted back severing all the three railways, thus preventing the Turks from getting aid and even withdrawing 1 . On the 30th of September 1918, Arab cavalry reached Damascus to find out that Arab nationalists among the citizenry had just raised a flag of Arab Revolt. On the following day Australian Light Horse troops entered the city. In the end of the same year Hussein’s son Faisal relying on his father’s understanding with the British began to set up his administration there. Compelled to fight against Entente Powers from one side and struggling against Arab revolt since 1916, the Ottomans withdrew from the region according to the condition of the Armistice of Mudros, 1918. 1 Hughes Matthew. Allenby and the British Strategy in the Middle East 1917–1919. London: Frank Cass, 1999