Oman's Oil Revolution: From Imamate to Sultanate

After the death of Imam Azzan bin Qais in 1871, Oman retreated into isolation under Sultan Turki bin Said and his successors. But the discovery of oil in the 1930s changed everything. This episode follows the power struggle between the conservative interior, loyal to the Ibadi Imamate, and the modernizing coastal Sultanate backed by British oil interests. We focus on the forgotten figure of Imam Ghalib al-Hinai, who led a rebellion in the 1950s that became a proxy Cold War battle. The conflict culminated in the 1959 Battle of Jebel Akhdar, where the British SAS and Sultan Said bin Taimur crushed the Imamate forces using brutal tactics and aerial bombardment. We explore how this war reshaped Oman, the tragedy of the lost Imamate, and how Sultan Qaboos later consolidated power after overthrowing his father. A little-known chapter of Middle Eastern history with echoes in today's politics. #OmanHistory #ImamGhalib #JebelAkhdar #ColdWarProxy #BritishSAS #IbadiIslam #OilDiscovery #SultanSaid #SultanQaboos #OmaniCivilWar #MiddleEastHistory #Decolonization #1950s #Muscat #Nizwa #FexingoHistory #History #ForgottenWars #OmaniEmpire #YarubaDynasty Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo