Editing Hamilcar Barca (section)

===Situation in Sicily===
The war, which had started in 264 BC, continued after the [[Roman withdrawal from Africa (255 BC)|Romans abandoned Africa]]; neither side gained a decisive advantage until 249 BC.{{sfn|Scullard|2006|p=559}} The Romans rebuilt their fleet after losing 364 ships in a storm in 255 BC, added 220 new ships, and captured Panormus (modern [[Palermo]]) in 254 BC;{{sfn|Bagnall|2005|p=80}} 150 ships were lost in another storm in 253 BC.{{sfn|Miles|2011|pp=189–190}} The Romans had occupied most of Sicily by 249 BC and they besieged the last two Carthaginian strongholds{{snd}}in the extreme west.{{sfn|Miles|2011|p=190}} The situation changed when the surprise attack on the Carthaginian fleet met defeat at the [[Battle of Drepana]]{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2003|pp=117–121}} and the following Carthaginian victory at the [[Battle of Phintias]]; the Romans were all but swept from the sea.{{sfn|Bagnall|2005|pp=88–91}} It was to be seven years before Rome again attempted to field a substantial fleet.{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2003|pp=121–122}}{{sfn|Rankov|2015|p=163}}

The Carthaginians had gained command of the sea after their victories in 249 BC, but they only held two cities in Sicily: [[Lilybaeum]] and [[Drepanum]] by the time Hamilcar took up command. The Carthaginian state was led by the landed aristocracy at the time, and they preferred to expand across northern Africa instead of pursuing an aggressive policy in Sicily. [[Hanno II the Great|Hanno "The Great]]"<ref>Appian Hispania 4</ref> was in charge of operations in Africa since 248 BC and had conquered considerable territory by 241 BC.<ref>Diodorus Siculus 24.10, Polybius 1.73.1, 1.72.3</ref> Carthage did not take advantage of their naval supremacy and carry the war to Italy other than launching a few raids.

Carthage at this time was feeling the strain of the prolonged conflict. In addition to maintaining a fleet and soldiers in Sicily, they were also fighting the Libyans and [[Numidians]] in northern Africa.<ref>Bagnall, Nigel, ''The Punic Wars'', pp. 92–94 {{ISBN|0-312-34214-4}}</ref> As a result, Hamilcar was given a fairly small army and the Carthaginian fleet was gradually withdrawn; Carthage put most of its ships into reserve to save money and free up manpower,{{sfn|Goldsworthy|2003|pp=121–122}}{{sfn|Rankov|2015|p=163}} so by 242 BC, Carthage had no ships to speak of in Sicily.<ref name="Polybius 1.59.9">Polybius 1.59.9</ref>