Aside from local Egyptian support, what made matters worse for the Romans was the absence of Egypt's prefect, Tenagino Probus, was preoccupied with naval expeditions against pirates, who are most likely Goths which raided the coasts of the Levant at the time.[2][1] Zosimus states that the Palmyrenes were helped by an Egyptian general named Timagenes during the invasion, and states that Zabdas moved into Egypt with 70,000 soldiers, defeating an army of 50,000 Romans.[9][10] After their victory, the Palmyrenes withdrew their main force and left a 5,000-soldier garrison.[10]