In 1768, a strong alliance was established between Nasif al-Nassar, the sheikh of the Metawali (Shia Muslim) clans of Jabal Amil in south Lebanon, and Zahir al-Umar, the autonomous Arab sheikh of Galilee and northern Palestine and head of the Zaydani clan. Together, they carved out a territory under their control and largely independent of Ottoman authority. Emir Mansur allied himself with them against the Ottoman governors of Sidon and Damascus, while Yusuf supported the Ottomans.