Nuri Bey's elder brother Enver Pasha, commander of the Ottoman Army, who saw an opportunity in Caucuses after the Russian Revolution took Russia out of Word War I, called back Nuri Bey from Libya. He was promoted to Mirliva Fahri (honorary) Ferik and gave the mission to form and command the Army of Islam. Nuri Bey came to Yelizavetpol (present day: Ganja) on May 25, 1918 and began to organize his forces.[3] The Army of Islam was formed officially on July 10, 1918[4]