In 820, al-Ma'mun ordered Isa to retake the Yemen from Hamdawayh, who was now considered a rebel. Isa marched south and defeated Hamdawayh on the field; the latter fled to Sana'a, but Isa pursued and captured him and took him back to al-Ma'mun.[6] That same year, Isa was appointed by the caliph to combat the Zutt, who had rebelled in Iraq and were raiding the environs of Basra and Wasit; al-Tabari provides no details of the campaign, but the Zutt remained active until 835.[7]