 Between 6,000 and 7,000 German and Ottoman soldiers from the Ottoman Fourth, Seventh and Eighth Armies had managed to retreat via Tiberias or Deraa, before these places were captured on 25 and 27 September, respectively.At this time, the retreating columns which moved via Deraa were at or north of Muzeirib on their way to Damascus.Two days later, on 29 September, Mustafa Kemal Pasha, commander of the Seventh Army arrived at Kiswe, north of Deraa, and south of Damascus, with his army's leading troops.