After several years of desert warfare, Ibn Saud's authority was unchallenged throughout the whole of the Nejd but Ibn Rashid was still the leader of the Al Rashid and still harbored a desire for revenge on the Al Saud. In the first months of 1906, Ibn Rashid raised an army of some 20,000 men, amongst them 2,500 horsemen of the Shammar tribe.
On this occasion, Ibn Rashid outmaneuvered Ibn Saud, threatening to cut the Saudi leader off from his supply lines to Riyadh. Much of Ibn Saud's forces had decided that discretion was the better part of valor and had dispersed, heading for home.
In April, 1906, Ibn Rashid and his army rested peacefully, encamped at an oasis some miles north of Buraidah, confident that Ibn Saud and his forces were far away.
But Ibn Saud had not withdrawn. In the company of a much-depleted force, he was close by and, taking advantage of the opportunity which surprise provided, despite the odds, he decided to order an attack under cover of night. Ibn Rashid attempted to marshal his troops, boldly declaring his presence to provide a rallying point. But this action, though consistent with the custom of Arab leaders in war, could be costly and Ibn Rashid paid the price. The attacking force quickly identified Ibn Rashid who defended himself to the end with all the courage for which he was justly renowned.
Caught unawares, leaderless and believing they must be under attack from a large, well-organized force, the Al Rashid fell into total confusion, firing indiscriminately. Many were killed in what turned into a rout.
The Al Rashid threat to Ibn Saud was at an end.