Encouraged by these victories, the Romans decided to bring the war to Africa in -256. Led by Regulus, the troops landed in Africa were crushed by the Carthaginians, led by the Spartan general Xanthippe, in -255 at the battle of Utica, and the Roman fleet was destroyed the same year by a storm. Tired of this war, the Carthaginian government sends its prisoner Regulus to make peace offers to the Roman Senate. To the surprise of the senators, Regulus pleads for the continuation of the conflict, and returns to Carthage, to be put there to death
In Sicily, however, the Romans regained control of the island between -253 and -251. This success was called into question in -249 by the naval defeat of Drepanum where almost the entire Roman fleet was destroyed. The rest of the Roman fleet was wiped out in a storm the same year. These Roman setbacks allow the Carthaginians under the command of Hamilcar Barca to gradually regain control of northwestern Sicily between -248 and -244.