Battle of Arara

BelligerentsGerman Empire
Ottoman Empire

France

• French Armenian Legion

British EmpireCommanders and leadersOtto Liman von Sanders
Jevad Pasha
OberstGustav von OppenEdmund Allenby
Colonel Jean Philpin de Piépape
Lieutenant Colonel Louis Romieu
Major GeneralS. W. HareStrength 16th and 19th Divisions, Asia Corps, Eighth Army, Yıldırım Army Group54th (East Anglian) Division
Détachement Français de Palestine et de Syrie (DFPS) including the French Armenian Legion, XXI CorpsCasualties and losses 218 Ottoman soldiers including six officers taken prisoner by the DFPS among 700 prisoners 535 including 23 French Armenian Legion dead
76 wounded

The Battle of Arara took place on 19 September 1918 during the Battle of Sharon, which, together with the Battle of Nablus, comprised the Battle of Megiddo, fought between 19 and 25 September, in the last months of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War. During the infantry phase of the Battle of Sharon the British Empire60th Division, XXI Corps attacked and captured the section of the front line nearest the coast under cover of an intense artillery barrage including a creeping barrage and naval gunfire while the 3rd (Lahore), 7th (Meerut) and 75th DivisionsXXI Corps attacked the Tabsor group of trenches. These (EEF) victories over the entrenched Ottoman Eighth Army, composed of German and Ottoman soldiers, began the Final Offensive, ultimately resulting in the destruction of the equivalent of one Ottoman army, the retreat of what remained of two others, and the capture of many thousands of prisoners and many miles of territory from the Judean Hills to the border of modern-day Turkey. After the end of the battle of Megiddo, the Desert Mounted Corps pursued the retreating soldiers to Damascus, six days later. By the time an Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Allies and the Ottoman Empire five weeks later, Aleppo had been captured.

During the Battle of Arara the Yildirim Army Group of the German and Ottoman Empires was attacked by the 54th (East Anglian) Division and the French Detachment of Palestine and Syria which included the French Armenian Legion (XXI Corps). This battle on the extreme right of the main attack covered the flank of the attackers pivoting on their positions. The Armenian's' role during this battle was so prominent that their efforts were recognized by the top commanders of the Allied Force.