Instead , the Byzantine general led his troops south and in mid-December , they suddenly appeared before Aleppo .
Sayf al - Dawla sent his army north under Nadja to meet the Byzantines , but Nikephoros ignored them .
The Byzantines general led Sayf al - Dawla 's troops south and in mid-December , they suddenly appeared before Aleppo .
Sayf al - Dawla sent his army north under Nadja to meet the Byzantines , but Nikephoros ignored them .