<prompt> Translate the following text to EnglishLakini, wakati huo, wanajeshi wa Uingereza walipokuwa wakipigana na Waotomani, waliahidi kwa siri nchi hizo kwa washirika wao wa Kiarabu katika Vita vya Kwanza vya Ulimwengu.  <response>: The problem was that British strategists, who were fighting the Ottoman Turks in 1917, had secretly promised the lands to their World War I Arab allies. 