 The Hospitallers also continued their maritime actions against the Muslims and especially the Barbary pirates.Although they had only a few ships they quickly drew the ire of the Ottomans, who were unhappy to see the order resettled.In 1565 Suleiman sent an invasion force of about 40,000 men to besiege the 700 knights and 8,000 soldiers and expel them from Malta and gain a new base from which to possibly launch another assault on Europe.