On February 6, the Spanish Melilla garrison was disturbed by the Riffian attacks.

The governor of Melilla, Manuel Buceta del Villar, decided to confront the Riffians.

He led a force of 1,200 men to pursue the Moroccans after their defeat at Tétouan.

The Moroccans, with a large army of 15,000 men, focused on their efforts to attack the Spanish camp.

O'Donnell was furious when he learned of the disastrous sortie and ordered the Spanish navy to bombard several coastal cities to save his face but these did not bring any results.