This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 17 PM Gaylani asked Nazis for military aid in case of war with UK

 

1916 Battle of Bait Isa Turkish counterattack stopped British advance British suffered

1,600 casualties Ottomans 4-5,000 3^rd defeat in British effort to relieve siege at Kut

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 16 Shah of Iran started giving military aid to Barzani to pressure Iraq to give him control over Shatt al-Arab

 

1914 US consul in Baghdad reported rumors spread that all Christians and Jews in city

would be massacred due to start of 2^nd Balkans War Rumors started after newspaper asked Mufti and Shiite clergy what was duty of Muslims in war They said to protect Islam and raise money Said Christians were defiling Muslim women in Balkans

This Day In Iraqi History – Apr 15 Joint Chiefs presented postwar plan with divisions from UK Poland Gulf States along with foreign police White House thought countries would end opposition to war and offer troops

 

1915 UK War Ministry committee heard from Adm Slade leading UK oil expert Said if Ottoman

Empire divided UK had to get Mosul vilayet because had oil

(Musings On Iraq review Enemy On The Euphrates, The Battle For Iraq 1914-1921)

Iraq Oil Revenues Rebound In March

There was a paradox with Iraq’s oil exports in March. Sales were down yet profits were up.

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 14 Saddam wrote article saying Shiites and Kurds were untrustworthy since ancient times because worked for Persians and was reason they started 1991 uprising

 

1915 Ottoman campaign to try to retake Basra from British failed

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 13 Gen Qasim made cover of Time magazine

 

1915 British won Battle of Shaiba Ottomans had 4200 casualties 700 captured UK 1232 casualties

            Ottoman commander Askari killed himself in disgrace British 1200 casualties

This Day In Iraqi History - Apr 12 Gertrude Bell wrote that Shiite clergy were all Persians and should be deported for issuing fatwas not to help UK defend Mosul against Turkey

 

1915 Battle of Shaiba began in Basra Ottomans and tribesmen launched frontal assault upon fortress

despite German advisers warning against it British artillery decimated Ottoman forces