Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar

Early career in Syria

In 1772, the Ottoman commander-in-chief of the Syrian provinces, Uthman Pasha al-Wakil, and Emir Yusuf besieged Sidon to oust the forces of Sheikh Daher al-Umar, the Arab strongman of northern Palestine, and Nasif al-Nassar, a powerful Shia Muslim sheikh in Jabal Amil. Daher consequently requested the Russian fleet bombard Beirut, which was under Emir Yusuf's control, to distract the Ottoman forces. The siege was lifted in June prior to the Russians' arrival in Beirut. On 18 June, the Russians began to bombard Beirut, but Emir Yusuf paid them to end their assault on 28 June. Fearing that Daher would occupy Beirut, Emir Yusuf requested al-Wakil bolster Beirut's defenses. In response, al-Wakil dispatched al-Jazzar with a force of Maghrebi soldiers and appointed him muhafiz (garrison commander) of Beirut. Al-Jazzar upgraded Beirut's fortifications. According to Philipp, "Beirut became the first stepping stone of Ahmad Pasha al-Jazzar's career in Syria".