Raid on Nekhl

Raid on Nekhl
Part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
Map of Sinai Peninsula
Date 13–21 February 1917 (1 week and 1 day) Location Central Sinai Peninsula Result Retreat of last Ottoman garrisons out of the Sinai
Belligerents
British Empire  Australia  India  United Kingdom	Ottoman Empire Sinai Bedouin
Commanders and leaders
W. Grant
Units involved
11th Light Horse Regiment No. 9 Coy Imperial Camel Corps British Yeomanry and Indian mounted units
Strength
420 + and 3 aircraft	64 to 130 Ottoman and Bedouin garrison
Casualties and losses
none	1 dead and 11 prisoners

The Raid on Nekhl (February 1917) was the second of three battles by British forces to recapture the Sinai Peninsula during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) mounted forces travelled into the centre of the Sinai Peninsula to attack and push the last Ottoman Army garrisons back into Palestine.

Nekhl had been a regional centre for British administration until the beginning of the war when Ottoman Empire forces invaded the area. During the Raid on the Suez Canal in February 1915 part of the attacking force had moved through Nekhl.

By February 1917 the Ottoman garrisons in the region were well behind the EEF front line. As the occupation of Southern Palestine began these isolated forces were attacked and pushed back into Ottoman Palestine.