▁Dam asc us . ▁▁ ▁Following ▁his ▁return ▁from ▁T usc any , ▁F ak hr - al - D in , ▁real izing ▁the ▁need ▁for ▁a ▁strong ▁and ▁discipl ined ▁armed ▁force , ▁ch anne led ▁his ▁financial ▁resources ▁into ▁building ▁a ▁regular ▁army . ▁This ▁army ▁proved ▁itself ▁in ▁ 1 6 2 3 , ▁when ▁Must af a ▁P asha , ▁the ▁new ▁governor ▁of ▁Dam asc us ▁and ▁the ▁Har f ush ▁cl an ▁under est im ated ▁the ▁capabilities ▁of ▁the ▁Leb an ese ▁army , ▁engaged ▁it ▁in ▁battle ▁and ▁was ▁decis ively ▁defeated ▁at ▁An jar ▁in ▁the ▁Bi qa ▁Valley . ▁▁ ▁In ▁addition ▁to ▁building ▁up ▁the ▁army , ▁F ak hr - al - D in , ▁who ▁became ▁acquaint ed ▁with ▁Italian ▁culture ▁during ▁his ▁stay ▁in ▁T usc any , ▁initi ated ▁measures ▁to ▁modern ize ▁the ▁country . ▁After ▁forming ▁close ▁t ies ▁with ▁the ▁du kes ▁of ▁T usc any ▁and ▁Florence ▁and ▁establish ing ▁diplom atic ▁relations ▁with ▁them , ▁he ▁brought ▁in ▁architect s , ▁ir rig ation ▁engine ers , ▁and ▁agricult ural ▁exper ts ▁from ▁Italy ▁in ▁an ▁effort ▁to ▁promote ▁prosper ity ▁in ▁the ▁country . ▁He ▁also ▁strength ened ▁Leb anon ' s ▁strateg ic ▁position ▁by ▁expand ing ▁its ▁territory , ▁building ▁for ts ▁as ▁far ▁away ▁as ▁Pal my ra ▁in ▁Sy ria , ▁and ▁gain ing ▁control ▁of ▁Palest ine . ▁Finally , ▁the ▁Ott oman ▁s ultan ▁Mur