Craterus' instructions were to "take up a position close to the town, surround it with a ditch and stockade, and then assemble such siege engines as might suit his purpose....".

Alexander also joined this mission and once inside his troops opened the town's gate to admit his attacking force.

Arrian puts the defender's force at about 15,000 fighting men and claims that 8,000 of them were killed in the first phase of the operation.

The rest apparently sought refuge inside the town's central fortress, but surrendered after one day for lack of water.

Arrian also cites Ptolemy saying that he distributed the men among the army and ordered that they should be kept guarded in chains until he should depart from the country, so that none of those who had affected the revolt should be left behind.