Within a month of the Imam's uprising, the Zaidis had blocked the road between Sana'a and the port of Hodeida, had cut Telegraph wires, suspended caravans[3] and Sana'a was reported as being besieged on 12 December.[2] On 26 December, the Rebels captured the Sinan Pasa post on the Sana'a - Hudaydah road.[2] Turkish reinforcements found themselves repeatedly ambushed by the Zaidis, and by 1905 Ottoman casualties stood at more than 25,000.[3] In early January, Hajjah was under siege by the Rebels. On 22 February, the Rebels surrounded Ibb and Qatabah.[2] In March, the Ottomans broke the siege of Mabar after 4 days of fighting.[2]