The capture of Anazarbos was very exhausting. Ioannes began by testing the mettle of the Armenian defenders, using his Turkish troops. The Armenians at first made a successful counter-attack, but then were driven back into the city. The Byzantine siege-engines damaged the city's walls, but were burned by hot iron shot from the city and by the sallies of the defenders. The Byzantines rebuilt their engines using bricks instead of wood as foundation and protection, and the hot iron was no longer effective. They were able to breach the wall, destroy the defenders' morale and capture the city