Niketas of Mistheia decided to settle the issue of the forts once and for all, offering generous terms for their surrender, but to no avail. He besieged Balatunus and it was surrendered by Ibn al-Ahmar. Niketas installed a garrison and improved the defences. He went on to the fort of the Banu Ghannaj, which was surrendered to him in return for safe passage. He besieged and demolished the fort of Ibn al-Kashih. But he was less successful at al-Maniqa, a major goal of the expedition. Nasr ibn Musharraf burned the siege machines during the night, and Niketas, with Symeon the droungarios, was forced to retire, planning to return with better equipment. On the way back to Antioch Niketas captured prisoners and cattle at 'Irqa