The Battle of Khadairi Bend was a preliminary battle fought to weaken Turkish defenses before the main offensive at the Second Battle of Kut.
The British forces, led by newly installed regional Commander-in-Chief Sir Frederick Maude, carefully planned and executed a series of operations over a period of several months to undermine the Turkish defenses at the highly fortified Khadairi Bend.
The bend was located north of Kut, on the left bank of the Tigris River, and consisted of two deep trench lines.
British sappers began digging tunnels beneath the Turkish lines on December 22, 1916, after capturing Turkish outposts. Within two weeks, they had dug within 200 meters of the Turkish eastern position.
On January 7 and 8, 1917, the British launched a series of diversionary attacks along the Tigris River. On January 9, Maude launched a major assault against the town, preceded by an unusually effective artillery bombardment.
The British made good progress in the face of fierce Turkish resistance. After heavy fighting, including two Turkish counter-attacks, Khadairi Bend fell on January 29.
The following month, Maude briefly paused to secure Kut before continuing on to Baghdad, which fell in early March.