Weakened and demoralized by the Battle of Hattin, the Knights Hospitaller seemed not to offer any resistance to the Ayyubids; their castle at Bethigibelin surrendered on the same terms as Jerusalem; however, they managed to recover.

The grand masters of Hospitallers and Templars were in Tyre with Conrad of Montferrat, who had taken command of the Crusader forces by the end of July 1187.

Disbanding most of his army, he followed at the beginning of March, confident that the castle would be taken easily, but he realized he had a little force and a long siege would be required.

[7] In the autumn, Saladin besieged the templar fortress of Safed, the crusaders in Tyre, fearing that if Safed had fallen, Belivour would fall so easily, despatched a force of 200 men under two hospitaller officers; however, the ayyubids routed the force and the officers were captured.

Saladin then marched to Belivour, where he dispatched a message to the garrison, promising them safety if they surrendered but threatening them with destruction if they kept resisting.