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Which battles helped Arab Muslim armies take control of Palestine from the Byzantine Empire?
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Palestine
View from a small valley with a stream between large hills of olive groves.
The Arab Muslim conquest of Palestine from the Byzantine Empire was secured through several key military engagements during the 7th century:
- Wadi Al-Arabah: This early battle took place south of the Dead Sea, where Byzantine defenders were defeated and subsequently pursued toward Gaza.1
- Battle of AjnÄdayn: Fought on July 30, 634, in southern Palestine, this victory for the combined Arab forces under KhÄlid ibn al-WalÄ«d left the region open to further invasion.1
- Battle of Yarmouk: Occurring on August 20, 636, this decisive engagement near the Yarmouk River resulted in a major defeat for the Byzantine army. This victory effectively ended Byzantine rule in Syria and Palestine, leading to the subsequent surrender of Jerusalem in 638 and Caesarea in 640.21
These battles were pivotal in establishing the Caliphateās control over the region, transitioning Palestine into a new administrative era under the leadership of the caliph āUmar I.1