The Shammar, notably the Abda section, lived in the Jazira in northern Iraq and in the Shamiyya desert in the south.

They were led by Aqab bin Ajil, who often raided Nejd in the 1920s. Before then they inhabited the Rashidi state in Jabal Shammar and were usually loyal to the Rashidi dynasty (with the exception of some groups who became pro-Saudi). Even those who favored the Al Rashid were divided in loyalty to the contenders for the Rashidi throne, Saud bin Subhan, Faisal Bin Fahd, and others.

After the fall of Hail, in November 1921, most of them wandered to Iraq.

• For a list of Shammar Ikhwan settlements, click here.