With little forces immediately available, Caliph Hisham appointed Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi to take command against the Khazars, and assemble whatever forces he could at Raqqa.
With scarce military assets readily accessible, Caliph Hisham dispatched Sa'id ibn Amr al-Harashi to confront the Khazars and gather any troops he could find in Raqqa.