Editing 973 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; The [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] army, led by General [[Melias (Domestic of the Schools)|Melias]] ([[Domestic of the Schools]] in the East), continues the operations in [[Upper Mesopotamia]]. 
* [[July]]: Melias moves against [[Amida (Mesopotamia)|Amida]] (modern [[Turkey]]). He defeats the [[Arabs]] outside the walls, and begins to lay [[siege]] to the city. After a few days, a violent wind and a thick dust spreads over the Byzantine camp. Covered by the dust, the Arabs attack and route the Byzantines. Many of them are slaughtered and some, including Melias, are taken prisoner. Previous Byzantine gains in the area are lost. The wounded Melias dies later in captivity.