ABSTRACT
Zubara felt victim of Britain acting on Bahrain's behalf. The al-Bin Ali' s departure from Bahrain under the leadership of Sultan bin Mohammad bin Salamah and their attempt to form a settlement at Zubara with the active support of Shaikh Jasim bin Mohammad bin Thani and the Ottomans, led to the Zubara crisis of 1895. The Bahraini chief was worried that anti-Bahraini forces at Zubara posed a serious threat to the security of Bahrain. Zubara had fallen into the hands of pro-Ottoman elements such as the al-Bin Ali tribe, and this was a severe blow to British interests and prestige in the Gulf in general and Bahrain in particular. Before the al-Bin Ali fleet, which was concentrated at Zubara, could head to Bahrain, British war ships bombarded the harbour of Zubara and forced Shaikh Jasim to make terms with Commander Pelly and dismantle the settlement.
