 Saladin revived the Egyptian naval force and tried to capture Beirut , but his ships were forced to retreat . Raynald ordered the building of five ships which were carried to the Gulf of Aqaba at the northern end of the Red Sea in February 1183 . Raynald laid siege to the Egyptian fortress on Ile de Graye . Part of his fleet made a plundering raid along the coasts , threatening the security of the holy cities of Mecca and Medina . Raynald left Ile de Graye , but his fleet continued the siege . Saladin 's brother , Al @-@ Adil , the governor of Egypt , dispatched a fleet to the Red Sea . The Egyptians relieved Ile de Graye and destroyed the Christian fleet . Raynald 's soldiers were executed , and Saladin took an oath that he would never forgive him . Though Raynald 's naval expedition " showed a remarkable degree of initiative " , according to historian Bernard Hamilton , most modern historians agree that it contributed to the unification of Syria and Egypt under Saladin 's rule . Saladin captured Aleppo in June 1183 , completing the encirclement of the crusader states . 
