Battle of Buwayb

The Battle of Buwayb was a significant Muslim victory in Iraq during the early conquest period, avenging an earlier defeat at the Battle of the Bridge. The Battle of the Bridge (Jisr) in 634 CE had been a serious Muslim setback: Khalid's successor Abu Ubayd al-Thaqafi had been killed, and the Muslim army had suffered heavy losses crossing the Euphrates against Sasanid forces equipped with war elephants. Al-Muthanna ibn Haritha, the Arab tribal commander who had joined the early conquests, reorganised the survivors and awaited reinforcement. At Buwayb, a large Sasanid force under Mihran crossed the Euphrates intending to destroy the Muslim remnants. Al-Muthanna allowed them to cross fully before attacking, catching the Persians in a vulnerable transitional formation. The Sasanid force was routed with heavy casualties. The victory restored Muslim morale and prestige in Iraq before the definitive victory at Qadisiyyah two years later.