Ascalon was Fatimid Egypt's greatest and most important frontier fortress. The Fatimids were able to launch raids into the kingdom every year from this fortress, and the southern border of the crusader kingdom remained unstable. If this fortress fell, then the gateway to Egypt would be open. Therefore, the Fatimid garrison in Ascalon remained strong and large.

In 1152 Baldwin finally demanded full control of the kingdom; after some brief fighting he was able to accomplish this goal. Later that year Baldwin also defeated a Seljuk Turk invasion of the Kingdom. Encouraged by these victories, Baldwin decided to make an assault on Ascalon in 1153 resulting in the capture of that Egyptian fortress by the Kingdom of Jerusalem.