 Muhammad promptly ordered over a thousand more cavalry and infantry to depart for the town.In Samarra, meanwhile, plans were developed to attack al-Anbar, and soon al-Mu'tazz sent a force of Turks and North Africans under Muhammad ibn Bugha to take the town.The defense at al-Anbar was split into two groups, with the reinforcements stationed outside the town and the Bedouins within.