The Assyrians did not hold Thebes for a long time: already by 662 BC, one year after the sack, some Thebans were dating their documents as per Tantamani's years of reign, suggesting that the Assyrians had already left the region.[18] Around the time of the sack Ashurbanipal was personnaly involved in two conflicts in Phoenicia, submitting Arwad and Tyre.[19] Soon after he participated in further campaigns against the Mannai, the Elamites and the Medes, all between 665 BC and 655 BC, which might explain why he did not maintain an Assyrian presence in Thebes.[19]