In Damascus were found many of the concubines of Darius and his chief officers, together with a vast treasure.
Before venturing into the plains of Mesopotamia for the final struggle, Alexander, to secure his rear and preserve his communications with the sea, marched southward down the Mediterranean coast, reducing the cities in his way.

In his speech before the council of war after Issus, he told his generals that they must not pursue Darius with Tyre unsubdued, and Persia in possession of Egypt and Cyprus, for, if Persia should regain her seaports, she would transfer the war into Greece, and that it was absolutely necessary for him to be sovereign at sea.

With Cyprus and Egypt in his possession he felt no solicitude about Greece.

The siege of Tyre cost him more than half a year.

In revenge for this delay, he crucified, it is said, two thousand of his prisoners.