alternatehistory.com

Let's say that with the monstrous slaughter of Verdun in full swing, the Allies renounce the Somme and the Brusilov offensive, only helping Italy fend off the Austrain Strafexpedition with ome four Franco-British division; they instead decide to gain time by bringing the Ottomans on their knees to force them out of the war and free resources badly needed on other fronts. The Germans would be left to bleed themselves in assaulting both fronts.

The plan calls for the Entente to field by spring 1917 a mostly Russo-British force, reinforced with at least a part of the Persians and all recruitable Armenian refugees, with a strong participation of France (an army with three or four colonial divisions and a national division), and, among the British, the use of all of the Anzac troops together with a mostly Indian force. Even the Italians would send in a couple divisions withdrawn from Albania (left to the Entente-aligned part of the Greek army). The campaign would stress the need for highly mobile and self-sufficient units, mainly cavalry with armored car units and air support for observation, strafing and (very) limited supply of lesser advanced recon units.

The assault would start with a giant feint, as the French invade Palestine; as soon as the Turks have committed down there to protect Gaza and Jerusalem, a giant pincher movement would plunge upon Iraq: the Russians from the north, across the high Euphrates pushing south, as most and possibile passing through Persia; the Brits attacking north from Kut, skirting east along the Persian border to meet the Russian and formed a mixed army group. This would later march upon the Arbela area and then cross the Tigri to cut off the Iraqi Turkish garrison, then head straight to Mosul, and thence in the general direction of Aleppo along the railway, forcing a general retreat foorm Syria-Palestine north, in the open sight of strafing plains.
By the end of 1916 the Entente army should cut a way to the Mediterranean coast at Alexandretta and approach the Cilician Gates through the Tarsus: forcing them would be left to the still relatively fresh Franco-Italians.

I know it's extremely unilikely that this plan could ever have been conceived, let alone accepted by the French; but: would it work, and in what measure. Was it POSSIBLE by that time's logistics? I'd bet yes.

ps
As a side note, it may be too late to save Kut's British garrison.
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