The Indian brigades advance in July 1941

One Indian brigade group, the 17th, moved forward along a rail from Tel Kotchek. Antoher, the 21st, moved towards Aleppo from Deir ez Zor. Some of their troops reached the Turkish border at Jerablus. The 4/13th Frontier Force Rifles fought an Arab guerrila force under Fawzi Qawukji, and ended up routing them with a bayonet charge. Fawzi Qawukji had been operating against the British in Palestine and saw an opportunity to create trouble for them in Syria, therefore drawing him in. He had been operating in Iraq, also trying to cause trouble for Habforce. This is based on the account in Vol.II of the Official History.