The campaign ended in a fiasco for the French troops who suffered an ambush and their leader was captured.

Both sides almost settled, however, the Bey of Tunis, Abu l-Hasan Ali I, learned of their transaction and dispatched troops to occupy the island they successfully captured on June 12, 1741.

Ali Bey also sent a force to destroy the French settlement of Cap Nègre.

[1][2][3] The French, wanting to capture Tabarka, dispatched a naval expedition consisting of 300 men, led by a maritime officer, Murat de Saurins.

The French troops attempted to capture Tabarka by a ruse, however, they faced an ambush by the Tunisians and suffered heavy losses.