List of wars involving Saudi Arabia

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This is a list of wars involving the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its predecessor states.

Contents

Emirate of Diriyah (1744–1818)

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultMonarch
Ottoman-Saudi War
(1811–1818)
Flag of the Second Saudi State.svg Diriyah Flag of the Ottoman Empire.svg Ottoman Empire Defeat

Emirate of Riyadh (1902–1913)

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultMonarch
First Saudi–Rashidi War
(1903–1907)
Flag of the Second Saudi State.svg Riyadh Flag of the Emirate of Ha'il.svg Jabal Shammar
Flag of the Ottoman Empire.svg Ottoman Empire
Victory
  • Saudi takeover of central and northern Arabia
Conquest of al-Hasa
(1913)
Flag of the Second Saudi State.svg Riyadh Flag of the Ottoman Empire.svg Ottoman Empire Victory
  • Incorporation of al-Hasa into Saudi Arabia

Emirate of Nejd and Hasa (1913–1921)

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultMonarch
Second Saud-Rashidi War Flag of the Emirate of Nejd and Hasa.svg Najd and Hasa Flag of the Emirate of Ha'il.svg Jabal Shammar Inconclusive, Saudi offensive halted
Kuwait–Najd War
(1919–1920)
Flag of the Emirate of Nejd and Hasa.svg Najd and Hasa Standard of the Emir of Kuwait, 1956.svg Sheikhdom of Kuwait Defeat
  • Ikhwan retreat from Kuwait

Sultanate of Nejd (1921–1926)

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultMonarch
Saudi Conquest of Hejaz
(1924–1925)
Flag of the Sultanate of Nejd.svg Najd Flag of Hejaz 1920.svg Hejaz Victory
  • Incorporation of Hejaz.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1932–present)

ConflictCombatant 1Combatant 2ResultMonarch
Saudi–Yemeni War
(1934)
Flag of Saudi Arabia (1934-1938).svg Saudi Arabia Flag of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen.svg Yemen Victory
First Arab–Israeli War
(1948–1949)
Flag of Egypt (1922-1958).svg Egypt
Flag of Iraq (1924-1959).svg  Iraq
Flag of Jordan.svg Transjordan
Flag of Syria (1932-1958; 1961-1963).svg Syria
Flag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon
Flag of Saudi Arabia (1938-1973).svg Saudi Arabia
Flag of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen.svg Yemen
Flag of Hejaz 1917.svg HWA
Flag of the Arab League.svg ALA
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Defeat
North Yemen Civil War
(1962–1965)
Flag of the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen.svg Kingdom of Yemen
Flag of Saudi Arabia (1938-1973).svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of North Yemen.svg Yemen Arab Republic

Flag of the United Arab Republic.svg  United Arab Republic

Defeat
  • Saudi Arabia stopped supplying the Royalists
Al-Wadiah War
(1969)
Flag of Saudi Arabia (1938-1973).svg  Saudi Arabia Flag of South Yemen.svg  South Yemen Victory
  • al-Wadiah reoccupied by Saudi forces [1]
Yom Kippur War
(1973)
Flag of Egypt (1972-1984).svg  Egypt
Flag of Syria (1972-1980).svg  Syria
Flag of Iraq (1963-1991); Flag of Syria (1963-1972).svg Iraq
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria
Flag of Morocco.svg Morocco
Flag of Saudi Arabia (1938-1973).svg Saudi Arabia
Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Defeat [2]
Lebanese Civil War
(1976–1979)
Flag of the Arab League.svg ADF Flag of Lebanon.svg LF
Flag of Lebanon.svg FLA
Victory [4]
  • ADF mission goals achieved [4]
  • ADF becomes an all-Syrian force in 1979
Gulf War
(1990–1991)
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
Flag of the United States (Pantone).svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Flag of Syria.svg  Syria
Old Flag of Oman.svg  Oman
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of Iraq (1963-1991).svg Iraq Victory
Iraqi No-Fly Zone Enforcement Operations
(1991–2003)
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg Iraq Victory
  • Various bombings of Iraqi forces both aerial and naval
  • Mass numbers of Iraqi targets killed or destroyed
  • Reduction in Iraqi air defense
  • Beginning of the Iraq War
First Intervention in the Somali Civil War
(1992–1995)
Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Flag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Flag of India.svg  India
Flag of Greece.svg  Greece
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Flag of Somalia.svg Somali National Alliance Defeat
Operation Ocean Shield
(2009–2016)
Flag of NATO.svg  NATO
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea
Flag of India.svg  India
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of Somalia.svg Somali pirates Victory
  • Number of pirate attacks have decreased dramatically since the start of such operations, however attacks still occur near the coast waters of Oman, Yemen, Kenya, and Somalia
  • Piracy drops 90% [5]
Sixth Sa'dah War
(2009–2010)
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Houthis Logo.png Houthis Stalemate [6]
  • Houthis consolidate control over Sa'dah
American-led intervention in the Syrian civil war

(2014–present)

CJTF-OIR present
War on ISIS
(2014–)
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq
Flag of Kurdistan.svg  Iraqi Kurdistan
Flag of Syria 2011, observed.svg Free Syrian Army
Flag of Rojava.svg Rojava
Flag of the United States (Pantone).svg United States
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Flag of Norway.svg  Norway
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Islamic State
Flag of the Al-Nusra Front.svg al-Nusra Front
Flag of the Al-Nusra Front.svg Khorasan
Ongoing
  • Multinational intervention against Syrian Islamists
Saudi Arabian–led intervention in Yemen
(2015–)
Flag of Yemen.svg Hadi government
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal
Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar
Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain
Flag of Kuwait.svg  Kuwait
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco
Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt
Flag of France.svg  France
Flag of Yemen.svg Houthi government
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Ansar al-Sharia
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Islamic State
Ongoing

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia</span> Combined military forces of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF), also known as the Royal Saudi Armed Forces, is part of the military forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It consists of the Royal Saudi Army, the Royal Saudi Navy, the Royal Saudi Air Force, the Royal Saudi Air Defense, and the Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force. The King of Saudi Arabia is the Supreme commander-in-chief of all the Military Forces and forms military policy with the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior. The five Armed Forces are among eight military forces of Saudi Arabia, with the others including the Royal Saudi National Guard, the Royal Saudi Guard Regiment and the Royal Saudi Border Guards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yom Kippur War</span> 1973 war between Israel and a coalition of Arab states

The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was an armed conflict fought from 6 to 25 October 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria. The majority of combat between the two sides took place in the Sinai Peninsula and the Golan Heights—both of which had been occupied by Israel in 1967—with some fighting in African Egypt and northern Israel. Egypt's initial objective in the war was to seize a foothold on the eastern bank of the Suez Canal and subsequently leverage these gains to negotiate the return of the rest of the Israeli-occupied Sinai Peninsula.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf War</span> 1990–1991 conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition

The Gulf War was an armed conflict between Iraq and a 42-country coalition led by the United States. The coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: Operation Desert Shield, which marked the military buildup from August 1990 to January 1991; and Operation Desert Storm, which began with the aerial bombing campaign against Iraq on 17 January 1991 and came to a close with the American-led liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Straits of Tiran</span> Narrow sea passages between Egypt and Saudi Arabia

The Straits of Tiran are the narrow sea passages between the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas that connect the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea. The distance between the two peninsulas is about 13 km. The Multinational Force and Observers monitors the compliance of Egypt in maintaining freedom of navigation of the straits, as provided under the Egypt–Israel peace treaty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Central Command</span> Unified combatant command of the U.S. Armed Forces responsible for the Middle East

The United States Central Command is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the U.S. Department of Defense. It was established in 1983, taking over the previous responsibilities of the Rapid Deployment Joint Task Force (RDJTF).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desert Battle Dress Uniform</span> US arid-environment camouflage uniform

The Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU) is a U.S. arid-environment camouflage battle uniform that was used by the United States Armed Forces from the early 1980s to the early to mid 1990s, most notably during the Persian Gulf War. Although the U.S. military has long since abandoned the pattern, it is still in widespread use by militaries across the world as of the early 2020s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Nickel Grass</span> U.S. strategic airlift to Israel during the Yom Kippur War

Operation Nickel Grass was the codename for a strategic airlift conducted by the United States to deliver weapons and supplies to Israel during the 1973 Arab–Israeli War. Between 14 October and 14 November of that year, the Military Airlift Command of the United States Air Force shipped approximately 22,325 tons of supplies, including tanks, artillery, and ammunition, in multiple flights of C-141 Starlifters and C-5 Galaxys. This initiative was undertaken to help improve the position of the Israeli military in the face of a large-scale joint offensive by Egypt and Syria, both of which had been receiving extensive support from the Soviet Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saudi Arabian Army</span> Military unit

The Saudi Arabian Army, officially the Royal Saudi Land Forces, is the principle land warfare branch of the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia. It is part of the Saudi Ministry of Defense, which is one of the two military departments of the government of Saudi Arabia, together with the Ministry of National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arab–Israeli conflict</span> Geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and North Africa

The Arab–Israeli conflict is the phenomenon involving political tension, military conflicts, and other disputes between various Arab countries and Israel, which escalated during the 20th century. The roots of the Arab–Israeli conflict have been attributed to the support by Arab League member countries for the Palestinians, a fellow League member, in the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict; this in turn has been attributed to the simultaneous rise of Zionism and Arab nationalism towards the end of the 19th century, though the two national movements had not clashed until the 1920s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States foreign policy in the Middle East</span> Activities and objectives of the United States in the Middle East

United States foreign policy in the Middle East has its roots in the early 19th-century Tripolitan War that occurred shortly after the 1776 establishment of the United States as an independent sovereign state, but became much more expansive in the aftermath of World War II. With the goal of preventing the Soviet Union from gaining influence in the region during the Cold War, American foreign policy saw the deliverance of extensive support in various forms to anti-communist and anti-Soviet regimes; among the top priorities for the U.S. with regards to this goal was its support for the State of Israel against its Soviet-backed neighbouring Arab countries during the peak of the Arab–Israeli conflict. The U.S. also came to replace the United Kingdom as the main security patron for Saudi Arabia as well as the other Arab states of the Persian Gulf in the 1960s and 1970s in order to ensure, among other goals, a stable flow of oil from the Persian Gulf. As of 2023, the U.S. has diplomatic relations with every country in the Middle East except for Iran, with whom relations were severed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and Syria, with whom relations were suspended in 2012 following the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War.

The Arab Cold War was a political rivalry in the Arab world from the early 1950s to the late 1970s and a part of the wider Cold War. It is generally accepted that the beginning of the Arab Cold War is marked by the Egyptian revolution of 1952, which led to Gamal Abdel Nasser becoming president of Egypt in 1956. Thereafter, newly formed Arab republics, inspired by revolutionary secular nationalism and Nasser's Egypt, engaged in political rivalries with conservative traditionalist Arab monarchies, influenced by Saudi Arabia. The Iranian Revolution of 1979, and the ascension of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as leader of Iran, is widely seen as the end of this period of internal conflicts and rivalry. A new era of Arab-Iranian tensions followed, overshadowing the bitterness of intra-Arab strife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the oil industry in Saudi Arabia</span>

Saudi Arabian oil was first discovered by the Americans in commercial quantities at Dammam oil well No. 7 in 1938 in what is now modern day Dhahran.

References

  1. Bidwell, Robin (1998). Dictionary Of Modern Arab History. Routledge. p. 437. ISBN   9780710305053.
  2. References:
  3. Loyola, Mario (7 October 2013). "How We Used to Do It — American diplomacy in the". National Review . p. 1. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  4. 1 2 SM Saseen, The Taif Accord and Lebanon's Struggle to Regain its Sovereignty, p. 63.
  5. "Somali piracy is down 90 per cent from last year". The Journal. 15 December 2013. Archived from the original on 16 January 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  6. Zimmerman, Katherine L. Yemen's Pivotal Moment. Critical Threats Project of the American Enterprise Institute, 2014.

Further information