Ottoman Empire Zaydani clan of Galilee In the Battle of Lake Huleh on 2 September 1771, the rebel forces of Zahir al-Umar and Nasif al-Nassar routed the army of Uthman Pasha al-Kurji, the Ottoman governor of Damascus, at Lake Huleh in the eastern Galilee.

Most of Uthman Pasha's 10,000-40,000 strong army drowned in the Jordan River as they attempted to flee Zahir's forces commanded by his son Ali al-Zahir.

This action surprised Zahir and Nasif who were left vulnerable to resurgent Ottoman forces in Sidon and they withdrew from that city on 20 June.

[4] Upon Uthman Pasha's return to Damascus on 26 June, he launched an expedition to reassert his authority over areas of Palestine that Zahir was left in control of in the aftermath of the Egyptian offensive.

[5] Uthman Pasha led his 10,000-strong army,[1] commanded by himself and two viziers from Anatolia sent by the Sublime Porte,[2] across the Jordan River from the east.