 The Mamluk Sultanate annexed Syria in 1260 , and maintained the imarat al @-@ ʿarab in Syria . In 1260 – 1261 , sultans Qutuz or Baybars replaced Ali or Abu Bakr with Isa ibn Muhanna , who was granted Sarmin and half of Salamiyah as his iqtaʿ . Ahmad ibn Tahir and Zamil ibn Ali contested Isa 's appointment , with the former demanding part of the emirate and the latter seeking to replace Isa . Baybars did not accord Ahmad ibn Tahir a share but gave him iqta 'at elsewhere in Syria , whereas Zamil opened a rebellion against Isa . The latter called for Mamluk support and Zamil was consequently apprehended by Mamluk troops from Aleppo . He was imprisoned in Cairo but soon after released after Baybars mediated between him , Isa and other Banu Rabi 'ah emirs . A further challenge to Isa came from his powerful kinsman , Ahmad ibn Hajji of Al Mira , who eventually desisted from confronting Isa when Baybars gave him virtual independence in the southern Syrian Desert . Ahmad ibn Hajji was referred to <unk> al @-@ ʿarab ( king of the Bedouin ) in Mamluk sources and numerous tribes came under his authority . 
