Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud)'s drive for consolidation was successful to the extent that by the end of 1904 (1322 AH), he had managed to break the stranglehold of the Rashid and push them into the area at Jabal Shammar in northern Nejd. The Rashid, desperately, appealed to the Turks who sent them reinforcements. Nevertheless, Ibn Saud's desert fighters kept control of the situation in Nejd. Through diplomatic negotiations at one time, and guerrilla warfare at another, Abdul Aziz forced the Ottoman Empire to recall its troops from Nejd. Thus on the death of Al Rashid in 1906 (1324 AH), Ibn Saud enjoyed complete control over Nejd. Having accomplished this objective, he turned his attention to Al-Hasa and the area of the Arabian Gulf which was still under Turkish rule. Calculating on the Ottoman Empire's preoccupation with uprisings in Europe, and on his belief that Britain, considering the situation a domestic affair, would remain neutral, Ibn Saud launched a successful assault, and by 1913 (1331/32 AH), he had consolidated his authority in both Nejd and Al-Hasa.
