The Sultan's policy was therefore based on the principle of avoiding direct confrontation with Ibrahim Pasha's army and of seeking instead to threaten Syria by land and sea so as to provoke an uprising among the inhabitants there. This policy was based on erroneous and misleading information sent by Hafiz Pasha, Commander-in-Chief of forces in Anatolia, who pointed to the imminence of an uprising against Mehmed Ali's rule in Syria. The Sultan amassed a sizeable force composed of local Turkish and Kurdish tribesmen from southern Anatolia whose mere presence was hoped to spark such a revolt. In the event, the Syrians were too cowed by Ibrahim's troops to revolt against Egyptian rule.

Builds on: "Palmerston's consuls often knew less than his policy demanded."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 1387