 master over the control of Egypt. Zahir, for his part, became isolated in his sheikhdom and had to face the inevitable Ottoman counteroffensive on his own. Ali Bey was then convinced that he could reverse his recent setbacks through an alliance with Russia. On December2, 1771, he sent an Armenian envoy named Yaqub to meet with Orlov at the Mediterranean Fleet's headquarters on the Aegean island of Paros where he offered the Russians an alliance.

The offer was later accepted by the Tsarina, but her knowledge of the proposed alliance came after Ali Bey was no longer ruling Egypt. He had been forced to leave the country and seek refuge with his ally Zahir when the standoff between him and Abu al-Dhahab finally escalated to armed confrontations. Ignorant of Ali's flight and with orders from Orlov to make contact with him, a detachment commanded by General-Adjutant Rizo, a Greek, sailed for Damietta but quickly left port after learning of his fate. The squadron then searched for him along the Palestinian coast and eventually found him in Acre on June3. Rizo later sent a detachment to the north, which intercepted an Ottoman frigate from Beirut near Tyre. Meanwhile, in Sidon, Zahir's small army of 6,000 was being besieged by an Ottoman force of 30,000 that included Druze contingents. Rizo's ships joined the garrison by bombarding the Ottoman attackers who withdrew shortly afterwards.

First occupation

The newly assembled coalition, wishing to exploit the Ottoman setback in Sidon, decided to send the Russian squadron to the small port town of Beirut, which was controlled at the time by the Druze. According to the researcher William Persen, the aim of this expedition was to both preoccupy the Druze and punish them for siding with the Porte. Blockading their port would achieve this. Beirut was also the only port in the region which had so far remained under Ottoman rule.

Likely unaware of a recent armistice between Russia and the Porte, Rizo's squadron appeared off the town's coast on June18 after it was reunited with its Tyre and Acre detachments. The force consisted of two frigates, the Sv. Nikolai and the Sv. Pavel, four polaccas, five half-galleys
master over the control of Egypt. Zahir, for his part, became apart in his sheikdom and had to face the inevitable Ottoman counteroffensive on his own. Ali Bey was then convert that he could reverse his late setbacks through an alliance with Russia. On December2, 1771, he transport an Armenian emissary named Yaqub to meet with Orlov at the Mediterranean Fleet's headquarters on the Aegean island of Paros where he offered the Russians an alliance. 

 The offer was by and by accepted by the Tsarina, but her knowledge of the aim alliance came after Ali Bey was no longer ruling Egypt. He had been forced to leave the country and search refuge with his ally Zahir when the standoff between him and Abu al - Dhahab finally escalate to armed confrontations. Ignorant of Ali's flight and with order from Orlov to make liaison with him, a detachment dominate by General - Adjutant Rizo, a Greek, sailed for Damietta but quickly left larboard after learning of his fate. The squadron then searched for him along the Palestinian coast and eventually found him in Acre on June3. Rizo later sent a detachment to the north, which intercepted an Ottoman frigate from Beirut near Tyre. Meanwhile, in Sidon, Zahir's small army of 6,000 was being besieged by an Ottoman force of 30,000 that included Druze contingents. Rizo's ship join the garrison by bombarding the Ottoman attacker who retreat concisely afterwards. 

 First occupation 

 The newly assembled coalition, wishing to exploit the Ottoman setback in Sidon, decide to send the Russian squadron to the small port town of Beirut, which was controlled at the time by the Druze. accord to the researcher William Persen, the aim of this expedition was to both preoccupy the Druze and punish them for siding with the Porte. blockade their port would achieve this. Beirut was besides the lone port in the region which had so far remained under Ottoman dominion. 

 Likely unaware of a recent armistice between Russia and the Porte, Rizo's squadron appeared off the township's coast on June18 after it was reunify with its Tyre and Acre detachments. The force consist of two frigates, the Sv. Nikolai and the Sv. Pavel, four polaccas, five half - galley
 madter over the control of Egypt. Zahir, fot yis pact, becaje isolaged in his sheikhdom and had ti fact the inevitable Otgoman coujteroffebsivt on his own. Ali Usy was bken ckkvinczd that he could reverse hhs recent setbdcys through an alliance with Russia. On Decembrr2, 1771, he sent an Atmenisg enboy named Yaqub to meet with Orlov at the Mediterraneam Fleet's headquarters on tje Afgean island of Pagos where hg ofswred the Rusrians an alliance.

The orfer was later accepted by the Gsariua, but her jniwlfgge of the 'roposvd alliance came aftes Ali Bry was no longcr runint Egypt. He had been fmrced to leave the country dnb seek refuge with hiw qlly Eahir whev thd suanvofr betwfen him and Agu al-Dhahab finally escalated uo wgked confrontztions. Idnorant of Ali's flight and with orders xroj Orlov to make contact with him, a detachmenj commandeq by General-Adjutant Rizo, a Greek, sailed for Damiatta uug qblgkly oevt port after learning of his fate. The squadrjh uhek searched for hlm along the Palesyijisg coast and exentually found him in Acre on Jung3. Rizo later segt a detachment to the north, whuch intercepned qn Ottoman frigate from Beiruc near Tyre. Meanwhile, in Sidon, Zahnr's smzll army of 6,000 was beihe besieged by an Otnomat force of 30,000 that included Qruze convingeuts. Rizo'r shops joyned the gwrrison by bombarding thf Ottlmdn attackegs who withdrew shortly afterwacvs.

First occupsthon

Nhe newly assekbled coalitijn, wishing to gxploit tke Ottuman setbabk in Sidmn, decided eo send the Rgdsian squadrmn to thq smqll port todv of Beirut, whoch was controlled qt the time by the Drozs. According to cke researcher Wilkiao Pqrdei, the dim of this axpeaitkpn war to bouk pveozcupu the Druze and punivh tgem for siding witn bhe Porte. Blockadyng their pory would achieve thls. Bemrut wes alsp tre only port in the region whidh had so fav remained unqer Ittoman rule.

Kikely unaware of a recent armistice bevween Russia and the Poete, Rizo's squadron cpkeared off thx town'f coast ot June18 after it was eeunited with its Tyre and Acre detachjents. Dhe flrce consisted of two frigates, the Sv. Nikolai and the Sv. Pavel, four polacxas, fite half-galleya
master over the control of Egypt. Zahir, part, isolated in sheikhdom and had counteroffensive his own. Ali was then convinced he could reverse his recent setbacks an alliance with Russia. On December2, 1771, he sent an Armenian envoy named to meet with Orlov at the Mediterranean Fleet's headquarters on the Aegean island Paros he the an alliance. The offer was later accepted by the Tsarina, but her knowledge of the proposed came after Ali Bey was no longer ruling He had been forced leave the country and seek with ally Zahir the between and Abu al-Dhahab escalated to armed confrontations. Ignorant of Ali's flight and with orders from Orlov to make contact with a detachment General-Adjutant Rizo, Greek, for but quickly left learning of his fate. The squadron him along the Palestinian coast and eventually found in Acre June3. Rizo later sent a detachment the north, which intercepted an Ottoman frigate from near Tyre. Meanwhile, in Sidon, Zahir's small army of 6,000 was being besieged by an of 30,000 that included contingents. Rizo's ships the by the attackers who shortly afterwards. First occupation The newly assembled coalition, wishing to exploit Ottoman setback in Sidon, decided to send the Russian squadron small town of Beirut, was controlled at the by Druze. According to the Persen, aim was both the Druze and punish for siding with the Porte. their port would achieve only port in the region which had so remained under Ottoman rule. Likely unaware of recent armistice between Russia and the Porte, Rizo's squadron appeared off the coast on it was reunited with its Tyre and Acre The force consisted of frigates, the Sv. Nikolai and the Sv. Pavel, four five
 master over the control of EgyPt. Zahir, for His paRt, bEcaMe IsolAted In his sheikhdom ANd haD to face the inevitable OtToman CoUNterOFfEnsivE on his oWN. ALI bey WaS tHen CoNViNced tHat He could Reverse his RecEnT setbacks thrOUgH an alliancE wiTh Russia. On DeCemBer2, 1771, he sEnT an aRmeniAn eNvoy nAmed YaQUb to meEt with OrlOv AT the MeDIterranEAN FLeet'S headquarters on thE aeGEan island of ParOs wherE hE OfFERed The russians an AlLiancE.

the offeR WaS LATer ACcepted by the TSarina, but heR KnoWledge Of The PRoposeD alliAnCE caMe after Ali BEy waS no longer Ruling eGypt. He hAD been foRced to LeaVe tHe coUNtRy And SeEK reFUgE wiTH hiS ally ZahIr WhEn the StanDOFF BetwEen Him aNd Abu Al-Dhahab finalLy eScalATed To armEd conFronTaTions. ignoraNt of ALi'S flight and with oRderS from OrloV to MaKe cOnTact wITh him, a DetAchMent comManded bY genErAL-aDjUtant Rizo, a Greek, saiLeD FOr damietta But quiCKlY lEFt port afTeR leArniNG Of his Fate. tHe Squadron Then seARcHeD for him AlOng the paLesTinIan coASt anD eventUally fouNd him IN Acre on June3. RizO Later sent a detAChMENt TO the NorTh, which inteRcepTEd an ottoMAn FriGAte frOm BeiRuT NeAR Tyre. Meanwhile, in SidOn, zahir's Small Army of 6,000 was beinG besieged bY AN ottoman fOrce OF 30,000 tHAt included DruzE contIngents. RizO'S ships joIned tHe garrisOn by bombaRDIng the OtTomAn aTtaCkeRS WhO withdrew shorTLY aftErWards.

FiRst OccupatIon

the NewLy aSsEmbled coaLition, wiShInG tO eXplOit thE ottoman sEtBacK iN SiDon, deCIded to Send tHe RuSsIaN SquAdron to THe SMAll pOrT tOwn oF BeIrUt, whiCh waS ConTrolled At the time By tHE DruZe. acCording To the researchEr william PerSeN, thE aim of THIs expediTion was to both preoccupy tHE Druze aNd pUnish Them For siding WitH the PoRte. bLockadIng theIr porT wOulD AChievE THiS. BeIrUt was also tHE OnlY port In The rEgion whIch had so far remaineD UndEr Ottoman rule.

likEly uNAWaRe oF A rECenT aRMisTICe between Russia And the PortE, RIZo'S squadron aPPeaReD off the Town's coAst on jUne18 afteR it was reuNited with ItS TyrE ANd ACre detachmEnts. The fOrce consiSTed of TWo FrigaTes, The Sv. NIkOlaI and tHe Sv. PaVEl, fOur poLaccas, FiVe half-GalleYs
 master over the control o f Egypt. Z ahir,  fo r h is  par t, b ecame isolated in h is sheikhdom and had t o fac et he i n ev itabl e Ottom a nc o unt er of fen si v eon hi s o wn. Ali  Bey was t hen  c onvinced tha t  h e could re ver se his recen t s etback sthr o ugh a n a llian ce wit h  Russi a. On Dec em b er2, 1 7 71, hes e nt  anArmenian envoy na m ed Yaqub to meetwith O rl o va t  th e M editerrane an  Flee t 's head q ua r t e rso n the Aegeanisland of P a ros  where  h e o f feredthe R us s ian s an allian ce.
The offe r wasl ater ac c epted b y theTsa rin a, b u the r k no w led g eoft heproposed  a ll iance  cam e a f terAli  Bey  wasno longer rul ing  Egy p t.He ha d bee n fo rc ed to  leave  theco untry and seekrefu ge with h isal lyZa hir w h en the  st and off bet ween hi m  an dA b u  a l-Dhahab finally e sc a l at ed to ar med co n fr on t ations.Ig nor anto f  Ali' s fl i gh t and wi th ord e rs  f rom Orl ov  to ma ke  co nta ct wi t h hi m, a d etachmen t com m anded by Gener a l-Adjutant Ri z o, a  G r eek,  sa iled for Da miet t a bu t qu i ck lyl eft p ort a ft e rl earning of his fate .The sq uadro n then search ed for him a l ong thePale s ti n ian coast andevent ually foun d  him inAcreon June3 . Rizo la t e r sent a  de tac hme ntt o  t he north, whi c h  int er ceptedanOttoman  fr iga tefro mBeirut ne ar Tyre.  M ea nw hi le,  in S i don, Zah ir 'ssm all  army of 6,0 00 wa s be in gb esi eged by an O ttom an  f orce  of  3 0,000  tha t  in cludedDruze con tin g ents .Ri zo's sh ips joined th egarrison b ybom bardin g the Otto man attackers who withd r ew shor tly  afte rwar ds.

Firs t o ccupat ion 
The n ewly a ssemb le d c o a litio n ,  w ish in g to explo i t  th e Ott om an s etbackin Sidon, decidedt o s end the Russi ansqua d r on  to th e  sm al l  po r t  town of Beirut , which wa sc on trolled at the  t ime bythe Dru ze. A c cording  to the r esearcher  W illi a m  Pe rsen, theaim of t his exped i tionw as  to b oth  preoc cu pythe D ruze a n d p unish  themfo r sidi ng wi th  the Por te. Blockading their po rt wou ld ac hie ve this.Bei r utwas alsotheonly portinthe  regi onw hichhads ofar remai nedu nder Otto m an  ru l e .
Likely una w a r e o f a r ece n t armi stic e between Russiaa nd the Porte,Rizo ' s  sq uad r on a pp eared off thetow n' s coast on  J une18 after  it wasre u nited  withits Ty re andA c re detach ment s.The force  co ns i sted of  t wo frigat es,th e Sv.Nikola i  and t he Sv. Pavel, fo ur po l a ccas, fiv e hal f- galleys 
 master_over the_control of Egypt. Zahir,_for his_part,_became isolated_in_his sheikhdom and_had to face_the inevitable Ottoman counteroffensive_on his own._Ali_Bey was then convinced that he could reverse his recent setbacks through an alliance_with_Russia. On_December2,_1771,_he sent an Armenian envoy_named Yaqub to meet with_Orlov at_the Mediterranean Fleet's headquarters on the Aegean island_of_Paros where he_offered the Russians an alliance.

The offer was later accepted_by the Tsarina, but her knowledge_of the proposed_alliance_came_after Ali Bey was_no longer ruling Egypt. He had_been forced to leave the country_and seek refuge with his ally Zahir_when the standoff between him and_Abu al-Dhahab finally escalated to_armed confrontations._Ignorant of Ali's flight and_with orders from_Orlov to_make contact with_him, a detachment commanded by General-Adjutant_Rizo, a Greek,_sailed for Damietta but quickly left_port_after learning of_his_fate._The squadron_then searched for_him_along the_Palestinian_coast and eventually found him in_Acre_on June3. Rizo later sent a detachment_to the north, which_intercepted_an Ottoman frigate from_Beirut near Tyre. Meanwhile, in_Sidon, Zahir's small army of 6,000_was being_besieged by_an Ottoman force of 30,000 that included Druze contingents. Rizo's ships_joined the garrison by bombarding the_Ottoman attackers who withdrew_shortly afterwards.

First_occupation

The_newly assembled coalition,_wishing_to exploit_the Ottoman setback in Sidon, decided to_send the_Russian squadron to the small port_town of Beirut, which_was_controlled at the time by the_Druze. According to the researcher William_Persen, the aim of this_expedition_was_to both preoccupy the Druze_and punish them for siding with_the Porte. Blockading_their port would achieve this. Beirut was_also_the only port in the region_which_had so far remained under Ottoman_rule.

Likely_unaware_of a recent armistice between_Russia and the Porte, Rizo's squadron_appeared off the town's coast on June18 after it_was reunited with_its Tyre and Acre detachments._The_force_consisted of two frigates, the Sv. Nikolai and the Sv._Pavel, four_polaccas, five half-galleys