This route from the North Sea to the Indian Ocean posed a major threat to the British Empire which acted promptly to seize Basra and blockade Hamburg.

After the capture of Fao by the British, the Ottoman army began to converge on Basra.

[1] The Ottomans prepared defensive positions at Saihan, and on November 15 the British attacked.

[5] Several battalions were loaded on the gunboats and on November 22, the Indian troops of the 104th Wellesley Rifles and 117th Mahrattas occupied Basra.

[6] The capture of Basra was a major step in protecting the Persian oilfields and refineries.