Nuri Bey's elder brother Enver Pasha, commander of the Ottoman Army, who saw an opportunity in the Caucasus after the Russian Revolution took Russia out of World War I, called back Nuri Bey from Libya. He was promoted to Mirliva Fahri (honorary) Ferik and gave the mission to form and command volunteer based the Islamic Army of the Caucasus. Nuri Bey came to Yelizavetpol (present day: Ganja) on May 25, 1918 and began to organize his forces. The Army of Islam was formed officially on July 10, 1918. Liberation of the Caucasus campaign begun and fierce fightings happened between Bolshevik Baku Commune-Armenians Dashnaktsutyun and Islamic Army of the Caucasus. The Islamic Army of the Caucasus lead by Nuri Pasha took control of the whole Azerbaijan and the capital Baku in 15 September 1918.