 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 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.