Editing Fatimid dynasty (section)

===Expansion into Syria===
In the meantime, immediately after the conquest if Egypt Jawhar had tried to extend Fatimid rule into [[Bilad al-Sham|Syria]]. The first Fatimid invasion failed largely due to the opposition of the Qarmatians of Bahrayn, who did not hesitate to align themselves with the Abbasid caliph and denounce al-Mu'izz in public. The Qarmatian leader [[al-Hasan al-A'sam]] led two invasions of Egypt in 971 and again, despite al-Mu'izz's efforts to win him over, in 974. Both invasions were beaten back at the gates of Cairo, forcing the Qarmatians to retreat to Bahrayn, and opening the path for a renewed Fatimid attempt to conquer Syria.{{sfn|Daftary|2007|p=162–164}} At the same time, around 970/71, the two holy cities of [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]], recognized Fatimid suzerainty, an important symbolic victory for the Fatimids.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=854}}

In 978, Caliph [[al-Aziz]] ({{reign|975|996}}) captured Damascus, but Fatimid power in Syria continued to be challenged, whether by powerful generals or by the restive Bedouin of Palestine under the [[Jarrahids]].{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=854}} Al-Aziz's attempts to capture the [[Hamdanid]] emirate of [[Aleppo]] brought the Fatimids into conflict with the Byzantines, who considered the city their protectorate.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=855}} Attempts to take Aleppo failed in 983, 992/3 and 994/5,{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=854}} and effective Fatimid power reached little past [[Tripoli, Lebanon|Tripoli]] in the north.{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=854}} In 987, the Fatimid suzerainty was recognized by the [[Ya'furids]] in Yemen,{{sfn|Canard|1965|p=854}} but Fatimid attempts to induce the fellow Shi'a rulers of Iraq, the [[Buyids]], to recognize their suzerainty, failed; the Buyids rejected the Fatimids' claims of Alid descent.{{sfn|Canard|1965|pp=855–856}} Al-Aziz's reign saw also a transformation in the structure and nature of the Fatimid state: the Kutama, who had been the main pillar of the early Fatimid regime, were now complemented by Turkish military slaves ({{Transliteration|ar|[[ghilman]]}}) as well as Black African slave soldiers, while under the guidance of [[Ya'qub ibn Killis]], the Fatimid administration became organized and regularized.{{sfn|Halm|2014}}