British General Frederick Stanley Maude felt that the presence of 10,000 Ottoman troops north of the city, led by Khalil Pasha, and the presence of another 15,000 Ottomans under Ali Ihsan Bey posed a considerable threat to the British position in the region.

Maude could not allow this maneuverer to occur unhampered, and decided to force Ishan to fight causing two Ottoman rearguard actions, one being the battle of Mount Hamrin.

Before the battle the Ottomans dug three lines of trenches overlooking two canals at the foot of the mountain.

British air reconnaissance detected the Ottomans moving forces to reinforce their east flank but Keary decided to proceed regardless.

[2] Ishan used this Ottoman victory to withdraw across the Diyala river in an effort to link with the Sixth army.

[1] As no Ottoman threat existed east of the Diyala or in Persia, Keary rejoined the main British Army under Maude.