for them. so they surrendered. >> the battle of aqaba proved the importance of an alliance with the local tribesmen. they knew the lay of the land, and they were fighters. these were tribesmen who survived by protecting what was theirs in the desert. and it would not have been successful had faisal not been part of it. >> aqaba is the turning point because it puts the arabs in a position where they can spread the revolt into the core regions of the middle east. >> at this point, lawrence sees himself as no longer fighting for the british. he's fighting for the arabs. but no one had heard a word from him in over two months. he was listed as missing and maybe even presumed dead. so lawrence realized he had to deliver the news about the fall