The battle began when General Djemal Pasha ordered his forces to secure the Hejaz Railway by "any and all means necessary". The Ottoman Army at Ma'an was sent to deal with the North Arab Army.[1] The Ottomans were ambushed by 700 Arab troops, inflicting heavy casualties and capturing 300 men. The remaining Ottoman forces retreated, leaving the railway uncaptured. After the battle, the Arabs rode further north to chase the retreating Turkish forces.
