Italian destruction of all Ottoman naval forces near Beirut secured free approaches to the Suez Canal during the Italo-Turkish War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 24 February 1912
- Italian vessels engaged
- 2 armoured cruisers
- Ottoman vessels sunk
- 1 casemate corvette, 6 lighters, 1 torpedo boat
- Ottoman naval losses
- All naval forces in the region annihilated
- Collateral damage
- Significant damage to the city of Beirut
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Italy feared that Ottoman naval forces stationed at Beirut could threaten the approaches to the Suez Canal during the Italo-Turkish War, prompting the Italian military command to order the elimination of the Ottoman naval presence in the area.
On 24 February 1912, two Italian armoured cruisers attacked Ottoman forces off the Beirut coast. They sank a casemate corvette and six lighters, withdrew, then returned to sink an Ottoman torpedo boat, completing the engagement in two passes.
The battle resulted in the complete annihilation of Ottoman naval forces in the region, securing Italian access to the Suez Canal approaches. The city of Beirut also sustained significant damage from Italian naval gunfire during the engagement.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent