British estimates of the defenders facing the EEF in the region at the beginning of 1917 were no more than 12,000, with the possibility of receiving at most one division as reinforcements.
Britiske estimater af antallet af osmanniske styrker i regionen i begyndelsen af 1917 var på højest 12.000 med mulighed for at få forstærkninger i en størrelsesorden af en division.