Muhammad Ali Pasha, like other rulers of…

Muhammad Ali Pasha, like other rulers of Egypt before him, desires to control Bilad al-Sham (the Levant), both for its strategic value and for its rich natural resources; nor is this a sudden, vindictive decision on the part of the Wali since he has had this goal since his early years as Egypt's unofficial ruler.

For not only has Syria abundant natural resources, it also has a thriving international trading community with well developed markets throughout the Levant; in addition, it would be a captive market for the goods now being produced in Egypt.

Yet, Syria is desirable perhaps most of all because it is a buffer state between Egypt and the Ottoman Sultan.

A new fleet is built, a new French-trained army raised, and on October 31, 1831, under Ibrahim Pasha, the Egyptian invasion of Syria initiates the First Turko-Egyptian War.

For the sake of appearance on the world stage, a pretext for the invasion is vital.

Ultimately, excuse for the expedition is a quarrel with Abdullah Pasha of Acre.

The Wali alleges that six thousand fellahin have fled to Acre to escape the draft, corvée, and taxes, and he wants them back.