Battle of Beirut

24 February 1912, Beirut harbour

Italian victory

Rear Admiral Thaon di Revel's two armoured cruisers appeared off Beirut and demanded the surrender of the Ottoman ships in the harbour. When this was refused they opened fire. Avnillah was set ablaze, struck her colours and was torpedoed; the cruisers came back in the afternoon and sank the torpedo boat Angora. Stray shells and fires killed 66 civilians, and the Ottoman government expelled Italian citizens from Syria in reprisal.