The Byzantine Empire could not offer much resistance to the invading Persian forces, with Heraclius himself needing time to implement a number of internal initiatives to ensure he could raise the necessary funds and troops for a renewed war against Khosrow II, the Sasanian king.

[citation needed] In response to the sudden loss of territory on the Eastern frontier, Heraclius organized a capable-sized army and marched to Antioch.

In the set battle, the Roman positions completely collapsed and a general rout of the Byzantine army led to an easy victory for Sharbaraz and Shahin.

The former part unsuccessfully attempted to hold a defense line at the Cilician Gates in the Taurus Mountains, and Nicetas was not able to stop Shahrbaraz's advance into Palestine and Syria either.

Jerusalem and all of Palestine fell to Shahrbaraz in 614, while Shahin made further inroads into central and western Anatolia,[6] and the Persian expansion reached its pinnacle with the successful siege of Alexandria in the spring of 619, which led to the annexation of Egypt.

Eventually, the Byzantines did defeat the Persians nine years later during Heraclius' campaign of 622, fulfilling the prophecy made in the Quran and hence Abu Bakr won, but by that time betting had been forbidden in Islam so he had to give up his gains as charity.