Hoping to defeat the Ottoman Empire from within, the British promised to support the Arabs in forming a post-war independent state if they encouraged and supported rebellion against the fledgling Ottoman Empire (Turks). Despite their promise, it turned out the British were secretly double dealing with the French. The infamous "Sykes-Picot Agreement" revealed Britain's true intention of betraying the Arabs and dividing much of the Middle East with France at the conclusion of the war... which they did.