Muslim Forces defeated Byzantine Army in the Battle of Iron Bridge

 

One of the final conflicts between the Rashidun Caliphate and the Byzantines, Jisr al-Hadid was named after a local nine-arched stone bridge that crossed the Orontes River and had gates trimmed with iron blades.

Previously, Muslim armies advanced northward, conquering a significant portion of Levant after seizing Damascus (635), then Jerusalem (637). Invading Anatolia, their ultimate goal was to seize Antioch, the seat of the Byzantine Empire in Asia. Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, the leader of the Muslims, dispatched a column after the fall of Aleppo to seize the city of Azaz in southern Anatolia, east of the Taurus Mountains. Khalid ibn Walid led the Arabs westward to seize Antioch after the completion of this mission, accompanied by his Mobile guard.

A significant combat took place close to a nine-arched stone bridge across the Orontes. The two gates of the bridge were sharpened with iron blades, hence the name "Iron Bridge." The location is close to modern-day Mahruba, Syria, around 20 kilometres from Antioch. The specifics of the conflict are unrecorded. Alongside his Mobile guard, like he did in numerous earlier fights during the Muslim conquest, Khalid ibn Walid took a leading position.

The Byzantine army suffered a large number of soldiers and was ultimately defeated. Except for the pivotal battles of Ajnadayn and Yarmuk, their deaths in this conflict were the highest during the Muslim conquest of Syria. The remaining Byzantine soldiers retreated to Antioch. The Arabian army advanced and surrounded Antioch. Some few days later, on October 30, 637, the city submitted. The agreement guaranteed that the defeated Byzantine army might leave in peace.

One of the most significant Byzantine strongholds in the East, Antioch, was lost as a direct result of the defeat. Following were the towns of Tartus, Jablah (Gavala), and Latakia. The Rashidun Caliphate's western edge border was established by the Taurus Mountains.

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