 Ghazan announced that he would return by November 1300 , and sent letters and ambassadors to the West so that they could prepare themselves . After their own naval raids , the Cypriots attempted a major operation to re @-@ take the former Syrian Templar stronghold of Tortosa . They prepared the largest force they could muster at the time , approximately 600 men : 300 under Amalric , and similar contingents from the Templars and Hospitallers . In November 1300 they attempted to occupy Tortosa on the mainland , but were unable to gain control of the city . The Mongols were delayed , and the Cypriots moved offshore to the nearby island of Ruad to establish a base . The Mongols continued to be delayed , and the bulk of the Crusader forces returned to Cyprus , leaving only a garrison on Ruad . In February 1301 , Ghazan 's Mongols finally made a new advance into Syria . The force was commanded by the Mongol general <unk> , who was joined by Armenian troops , and Guy of Ibelin and John , lord of <unk> . But despite a force of 60 @,@ 000 , <unk> could do little else than engage in some raids around Syria , and then retreated . 
