The Army of Epirus was tasked with the secondary strategic direction, towards the strongly fortified city of Ioannina and beyond. As the main initial strategic effort was to be against Thessaly, it was relegated to a secondary role, and was initially outnumbered by the Ottoman forces in the area (Yanya Corps under Esad Pasha). It nevertheless pushed back the initial Ottoman assaults, took Preveza and advanced to the approaches of the Ioannina fortified zone. Two attacks on the city in December and January were repulsed by the Ottoman forces, but after extensive preparations and transfer of forces from Macedonia, the city fell following the Battle of Bizani. The Army of Epirus was commanded until by Lt Gen Konstantinos Sapountzakis, and thereafter by Crown Prince Constantine.