Bugeaud, attempting to complete the French conquest of Algeria, instigated the battle without a declaration of war in order to force negotiations concerning Moroccan support for the Algerian resistance leader Abd el-Kader to conclude on terms favorable to the French[4] who demanded the Sultan of Morocco to withdraw support for Abd el-Kader.

[5] Bugeaud, who recovered the Moroccan commander's tent and umbrella (equivalent to capturing a military standard in European warfare), was made Duke of Isly for his victory.

[10] In reaction, the French then truly undertook the systematic conquest of the country, which the July monarchy made a reason for national pride and military heroism.

Algeria's major cities fell and Abd el-Kader saw his mobile encampment destroyed in Taguin in 1843 following the Battle of the Smala and was driven back into the desert.

[9] He then took refuge in Morocco, but, at the same time, the army of Sultan Abd al-Rahman was defeated at Isly [fr], while the French fleet bombarded the ports of Tangier and Mogador.

[11] On the 6th of August, Tangier had been bombarded by French ships commanded by François d'Orléans, a son of the King of France, Louis Phillippe I.

The first echelon, composed of six squadrons of spahis commanded by Colonel Joseph, rushed to a Moroccan camp and captured eleven pieces of artillery.

[14] As a consequence of the battle and French naval actions the Moroccans sued for peace, declaring Abd al-Qadir "mufsid" or a ‘corrupter’ instead of a true holy warrior.