Mehmed Ali still had his eye fixed on Syria, though, and on several occasions he asked to be given the eyalet of Damascus in addition to that of Egypt. In 1812, for example, he spoke to the British consul about his designs on the area. The following year while his forces were having difficulties trying to subdue the Wahhabis in Arabia, he wrote to the Sadrazam telling him that he could offset the reverses suffered by his army in Arabia only if he was given the eyalet of Sham (i.e. Damascus) in addition to Egypt. Two years later he repeated the same request. When his supply lines got longer and longer in his war against the Wahhabis and in order to prepare for the final attack on the Saudi capital, Dar‘iyya, it was realized at least 20,000 camels were required, only 3,000 of which had been secured from Syria in spite of repeated promises of help from the vali of Damascus.

Builds on: "Syria was Mehmed Ali's most coveted province from early on."

Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed…, loc. 210