After a period of escalating violence the war began in earnest on October 3 when 6,000 Rif warriors armed with Remington rifles descended from the mountains and attacked the city's garrison of 400 regular infantry.
Following a period of increasing conflict, the war officially began on October 3rd when 6,000 Rif fighters equipped with Remington rifles launched an assault on the city's garrison of 400 regular soldiers.