This paper will investigate Ottoman operations in South Arabia with an emphasis on ‘Asir. This was an ongoing campaign that transitioned from an anti-insurrectionary operation to one that took place against other concerns in the Hijaz and Yemen. Utilizing memoirs of Ottoman officers and other contemporary sources this paper will provide the outlines of the Idrisid revolt in ‘Asir and Ottoman efforts to contain the revolt for eight years. These events will be linked to the Ottoman Hijaz campaign and operations in Yemen/South Arabia. Additionally, the paper will fit the ‘Asir front into the larger context of the First World War in the Middle East and its position in the post-war struggle for Arabia. This contest, a “Scramble for Arabia” had developed throughout the early 20th century as the Ottoman and British Empires asserted greater control on the peninsula and local actors used the imperial rivalry to improve their respective positions. The First World War ruptured this rivalry, with the departure of the Ottomans from the contest, however the power vacuum created resulted in a new struggle between Arab contenders themselves as well as with the British Empire began. The result was that the interior of the peninsula was dominated by the Saudis and coastal areas entered into alliance with the British. The paper will fit this prolonged struggle into the larger context of the First World War in the Middle East as well as Post-War conflicts. Further, it will integrate the complex relations and interactions on the peninsula and link it with literature on the post-war Middle East. Furthermore, the three-way struggle between the Idrisids (‘Asir), the Mutwakkilites (Yemen), and the Saudis (Najd) will also discussed in the context of the prolonged Ottoman withdrawal from South Arabia as well as the Ottoman officers who remained in Yemen and fought with the Mutawakkilites. The post-war contest the Saudis and other regional powers will also be highlighted.