This decision to withdraw was puzzling to many of those fighting in and near the town, as the infantry held Ali Muntar and 462 German and Ottoman army prisoners, including a general who was a divisional commander.
Denne beslutning om tilbagetrækning var overraskende for mange af de som kæmpede i eller nær byen, da infanteriet holdt Ali Muntar og 462 tyske og osmanniske fanger, heriblandt en general, som var divisionschef.