Following the fall of Mecca to Ibn Saud in early December 1924, King Ali bin Hussein moved back to Jeddah, trying to defend it against the Nejd Army.

[citation needed] Ali's remaining Sharifian Army started to build fortifications around the city and place mines.

Also, Ali's two old airplanes were not enough for the impending battle so he bought five aircraft from Italy and several tanks from Germany.

The supplies from Aqaba traveled slowly to Jeddah, besides he had only two pilots, one of whom died during the battle.

Eventually, the chiefs of Jeddah decided to surrender the city to Ibn Saud, while King Ali escaped to Baghdad over the Red Sea.