[1] Resulting from long-standing territorial disputes and tribal rivalries which evolved into a full blown war, the battle marked a crucial turning point in Gulf politics of the late 19th century.

Qatari forces, numbering between 500 and 1,000 men and supported by limited Ottoman assistance, achieved a decisive victory, capturing Khannour Fort and advancing deep into Abu Dhabi territory.

Qatar, under Jassim, had aligned itself with the Ottoman Empire, while Abu Dhabi maintained closer ties with Britain, creating a backdrop of conflicting imperial interests.

This act of defection prompted Zayed to dispatch an envoy, Mohammed Saif Al Mazrouei, to Qatar to negotiate the return of the fugitive.

[6] In February 1888, approximately 400 men of the Al Bu Shaar branch of the Manasir mounted on 200 camels arrived at Nuaija, an area of Doha which held the town's main well.

[7] In March 1888, Jassim launched a substantial retaliatory offensive against Abu Dhabi territory, mobilizing a coalition of allied tribes and securing limited Ottoman support.

This operation involved intricate logistical coordination, including the utilization of a Turkish supply vessel to deliver provisions and armaments to the strategic coastal location of As Sila.

The offensive resulted in significant material losses for Abu Dhabi, including the burning of 20 villages and numerous nomadic encampments and the reported capture of 400 camels and 22 local inhabitants.

In response to this incursion, Zayed lodged a formal protest with British authorities, asserting that the attack constituted a violation of existing maritime peace treaties.

[6] The conflict escalated dramatically in August 1888 when Abu Dhabi forces, led by Zayed's son Khalifa, launched an attack on the Rawdat Al Khail region of Doha with approximately 5,000 cavalry and infantry troops, though the exact number is disputed in different accounts.

The attack was particularly effective as it occurred in the month of Ramadan during dawn prayer at a time when Jassim was 40 miles away in Al Daayen, leaving Doha vulnerable.

[8] Preceding the invasion, Sheikh Jassim of Qatar embarked on a comprehensive campaign to build alliances and undermine Abu Dhabi's support base.

[1] Anticipating the attack, Zayed positioned his forces near the island of Abu Dhabi to compel the Qatari army to traverse a long desert route, potentially weakening them before engagement.

[2] They advanced towards the Khannour Fort, a strategic stronghold in the Emirate built by the Bani Yas early in Shakhbut bin Dhiyab Al Nahyan's reign.

The initial assault was particularly fierce, compelling many of the local inhabitants, including members of the Manasir and Bani Yas tribes, to abandon their homes and seek refuge in the fort or flee towards the coast.

[13] The intensity and frequency of these raids prompted concern among other regional powers, with sources mentioning that the Sultan of Oman requested the Sheikh of Ras Al Khaimah to block mountain passes to impede the advance of Qatari forces.

[2] Although Jassim was successful in besieging Khannour Fort and subsequent raids, his ambitions for a large-scale invasion were not fully realized due to several factors, including limited support from Ibn Rashid and conflicting interests among potential allies.

[15] The battle's aftermath led to a period of diplomatic maneuvering and further skirmishes between the two emirates, eventually culminating in a retaliatory offensive campaign along the Qatari Peninsula and Al-Ahsa in April 1889 by Zayed, who was assisted by the rulers of Dubai and Muscat and Oman.

The British Political Resident in the Gulf, perceiving the conflict as a threat to regional stability, attempted to mediate between the two parties in October 1889, though these initial efforts were unsuccessful.