A joint Spanish-Neapolitan-Maltese-Portuguese fleet commanded by the Spanish Admiral Antonio Barceló bombarded the city, which was the main base of the Barbary corsairs, with the aim of forcing them to interrupt their activities.

[6] In August 1783, in response to acts of piracy undertaken by the city, a Spanish fleet with Maltese participation under Antonio Barceló bombarded Algiers for 8 days.

[7][8] Significant propaganda was made by the participants to portray the attack as a success, but it only inflicted minor damages and was described by the Spanish court as a "festival of fireworks too costly and long for how little it entertained the Moors".

[4] The city's defenses were reinforced with a new 50-gun fortress,[3] 4,000 Turkish volunteer soldiers were recruited in Anatolia,[3] and European aides were hired to assist in the building fortifications and batteries.

[3] In addition, at least 70 vessels were prepared to repel the Spanish,[3] and a reward of one thousand gold pieces was offered by the Dey to anyone who captured a ship of the attacking fleet.

[3] On 28 June, having entrusted itself to the Virgen del Carmen, the Allied fleet sailed from Cartagena, arriving off Algiers on 10 July.