Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad Begins

The Battle of Sheikh Sa'ad occurred between 6–8 January 1916 during the Mesopotamian Campaign of the First World War.

The battle took place along the banks of the Tigris River between the Anglo-Indian Tigris Corps and elements of the Ottoman Sixth Army. The engagement was the first in a series of assaults by the Tigris Corps to try and breakthrough the Ottoman lines to relieve the besieged garrison at Kut.

In the aftermath of the British defeat at the Battle of Ctesiphon in November 1915, and the humiliating withdrawal to Kut-al-Amara, British commander Sir Charles Townshend (heading the 6th (Poona) Division) found his force besieged by some 10,500 Turkish forces on 7 December.