 In March and April 1918 , Australian and New Zealand mounted troops and British infantry took part in two raids east across the Jordan River to Amman and Es Salt , a village in Palestine 23 kilometres ( 14 mi ) west of Amman . Although these raids were unsuccessful , they encouraged Turkish commanders to believe that the main British effort would be launched across the Jordan when it would be launched along the coastal plain . Before these operations could commence it was necessary to capture the country east of Jerusalem and into the Jordan Valley to Jericho . The attack on the Turkish 26th and 53rd Infantry Divisions was made by the 60th ( London ) and the Anzac Mounted Divisions on 19 February . Talat ed Dumm , on the road from Jerusalem , was captured the next day and in the evening the Wady Fara and Nebi Musa were also captured . On 21 February Jericho was occupied by the two divisions of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force . 
