In early July, Western Mountain Military District forces under Zintani commander Osama al-Juwaili took control of Ghadames and the surrounding area amid mobilisations and some clashes in the area.
On 8 July, the 17th Border Guard Battalion, commanded by Muhammed Abdul Nabi al-Zintani, announced the full mobilization of the battalion, including all heavy weapons, allegedly in order to deploy the next day to the vicinity of al-Wafa oil field for a field exercise with live ammunition.
On 10 July in the evening, forces from the Western Mountain Military District, commanded by Lieutenant General Osama Abdussalam al-Juwaili, entered Ghadames and took full control of the city of and its surrounding areas.
Al-Juwaili said that this deployment is part of a broader security initiative aimed at bolstering border security and enforcing state authority, implying it is part of Presidential Council (PC) head Mohamed al-Menfi’s wider security arrangements. He stated that the mission was prompted by reports of various security breaches and is intended to combat illegal activities, including smuggling, human trafficking, terrorism, sabotage, and organized crime. The forces are tasked with acting decisively and professionally to protect the region’s borders and vital resources.
On 11 July, following their takeover of Ghadames, al-Juwaili´s forces advanced towards the Debdeb border crossing with Algeria and took control of it.
On 12 July, tensions escalated along the Libya–Tunisia border at the Wazin border crossing (west of Nalut) when the Amazigh-led 419th Battalion launched a surprise attack on Government of National Unity (GNU) Border Guards. The Amazigh seized full control of the border post, forcing the government forces to retreat from the border area. Later the same day, reinforcements from Nalut were deployed to consolidate control over the border crossing and the occupied areas. A smuggling route across the border near Wazin was also taken over by Amazigh forces.
Meanwhile, clashes erupted between militias from Nalut and from Zintan, further highlighting the fragile security situation in western Libya.
On 13 July, troops purportedly from the Zintan-based 714th Border Guard Battalion were deployed to Ghadames.
On 14 July, al-Juwaili´s troops took over control of Ghadames airport. Allegedly, there were some brief clashes between al-Juwaili´s troops and the 17th Border Guard Battalion at the airport and in Ghadames. Several vehicles of the Border Guard were destroyed. Muhamed Abdul Nabi al-Zintani, the commander of the 17th Border Guard Battalion, and three of his men were wounded.
Al-Juwaili said that the Western Mountain Military District carried out a limited military operation in Ghadames and its suburbs to maintain security and break the chain of drug smuggling and cross-border organized crime. The ‘main phase’ of the operation was carried out without human or material losses. According to al-Juwaili, the northwestern cities of the al-Hamada al-Hamra desert are within the territorial jurisdiction of the Western Mountain Military District.
Juwaili appears to have consolidated his control over the strategic town.
Following the take-over of Ghadames security by al-Juwaili, PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba held an emergency meeting to discuss these developments with Ministry of Defence Undersecretary for Regions and Military Affairs Abdul Salam Zoubi, 444 Brigade commander Mahmoud Hamza and several Misrata militia leaders.
On 15 July, the 17th Border Guard Battalion burned several of its armed pick-ups, emphasizing that it refuses to use weapons against any Libyan, whether from Zintan or Ghadames or any other city. It will not engage in a war against Osama al-Juwaili´s forces and rejects the orders of the GNU to do so.
PC Deputy Abdullah al-Lafi held talks with Abdul Qader Heiba, the HoR representative for Ghadames, to review recent developments in the city, with a particular focus on security and military matters. The meeting also covered the current situation at the Debdeb border crossing with Algeria.
Al-Juwaili denied that the 714th Border Guard Battalion has been involved in operations in Ghadames. He claimed that this newly formed battalion is not yet an effective combat force and therefore did not yet take over a sector.
On 16 July, al-Juwaili discussed with the mayor of Ghadames Yaqoub Dawi and two Municipal Council members the security situation in the municipality, particularly regarding the city’s airport and the border crossing. Moreover, the meeting focused on enhancing coordination between civilian and military authorities to ensure security stability and provide suitable conditions for reopening the border crossing, which is considered a vital economic and tourism lifeline for the region.