Following the Battle of Nahrawan, Ali returned to Kufa and camped outside the city for his army to recuperate before a renewed Syria campaign. Most soldiers, however, deserted the camp and Ali was compelled to abandon his plans and return to Kufa. The soldiers were either demoralized by the Battle of Nahrawan, or perhaps they were recalled by their tribal leaders, who wanted peace with Syrians. Mu'awiya had secretly offered many of them posts and wealth in return for their support, whereas Ali refused to grant any financial favors to the tribal chiefs as a matter of principle. At any rate, the secession of so many of the and the coolness of the tribal leaders weakened Ali. With the collapse of his broad military coalition, the governor of Egypt, Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr, was defeated and killed, and Egypt thus fell in 658 to a Syrian army led by Amr ibn al-As. In addition, Ali had to contend with Kharijite revolts in his territory and faced some opposition in the eastern provinces.
