Wahhabi War: Ottoman/Egyptian-Saudi War
Arabian PeninsulaThe Wahhabi Wars (1811–1818) began with the Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II ordering Muhammad Ali of Egypt to attack the Wahhabi state. Muhammad Ali's modernized military forces faced the Wahhabis, leading to significant conflicts.[20] Key events in the conflict included the capture of Yanbu in 1811, the Battle of Al-Safra in 1812, and the capture of Medina and Mecca by Ottoman forces between 1812 and 1813. Despite a peace treaty in 1815, the war resumed in 1816. The Najd Expedition (1818) led by Ibrahim Pasha resulted in the Siege of Diriyah and the eventual destruction of the Wahhabi state.[21] Following the war, prominent Saudi and Wahhabi leaders were executed or exiled by the Ottomans, reflecting their deep resentment towards the Wahhabi movement. Ibrahim Pasha then conquered additional territories, and the British Empire supported these efforts to secure trade interests.[22] The Wahhabi movement's suppression was not entirely successful, leading to the establishment of the Second Saudi State in 1824.