Soldier of India guarding Turkish prisoners captured at Sannaiyat, Iraq on 24 February 1917 detail on The Mesopotamian Campaign, 1916-1918 Q25187 (cropped)

The Mesopotamian campaign refers to a series of military operations that took place during the First World War in the region of Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq. The campaign was fought between the British Empire and the Ottoman Empire. The British had strategic interests in Mesopotamia, particularly the protection of oil fields in Persia (now Iran) and the desire to secure a route to India. The Ottoman Empire, on the other hand, wanted to defend its territories and maintain control over Mesopotamia. The campaign began in November 1914 when British forces launched an offensive against the Ottoman garrison at Basra. The British were successful in taking Basra and continued their advance up the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. However, they faced significant challenges due to difficult terrain, extreme weather conditions and fierce resistance from Ottoman forces. One of the major battles of the campaign was the Siege of Kut al-Amara, which lasted from December 1915 to April 1916. The British forces, led by Major General Charles Townshend, were besieged by the Ottomans in the town of Kut. After months of hardship and disease, the British were forced to surrender in one of the largest surrenders of British forces in history. Following the surrender of Kut, the British launched a new offensive in 1917 under the command of General Frederick Stanley Maude. They successfully recaptured Kut and continued their advance towards Baghdad. In March 1917, British forces entered Baghdad, marking a major victory in the campaign. The Mesopotamian campaign continued until the end of the First World War, with further battles being fought to secure control of Mesopotamia. Ultimately, the British Empire emerged victorious, gaining control of the region that would become the modern nation of Iraq. The campaign had important consequences for both sides. It demonstrated the importance of oil as a strategic resource and highlighted the challenges of fighting in the harsh desert conditions of Mesopotamia. The campaign also had a lasting impact on the political landscape of the region, shaping the future of Iraq and its relationship with the British Empire.

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