On 28 August, later in the afternoon, the 55th (Wershefana) Battalion led by Muhammar al-Dhawi, declared a state of alert and mobilized all its forces.
At first, the Battalion conducted a show-of-force in the Wershefana territory, but later moved on to the Coastal Road where it occupied Camp 27 east of Zawiyya. There are rumours in Zawiyya that PM Dabaiba gave al-Dhawi 90 million LYD to seize control of the city of Zawiyya.
On 29 August, in a published statement, the 55th Battalion released confessions from four individuals it claims attacked its headquarters in Wershefana in an attempt to assassinate al-Dhawi. The attackers were described as a mix of local troublemakers and ‘misfits’ from various regions, including both Libyans and mercenaries. Among those accused were a Chadian man and two Libyans from Mizdah. One of the Libyans from Mizdah stated that he was part of a group of 16 individuals who launched the attack from Zawiyya. He also said the group included Chadian and Sudanese mercenaries.
Al-Dhawi himself blamed mercenary gangs from Chad and Nigeria for the assassination attempt. He affirmed the battalion’s readiness to pursue and prosecute all those responsible, urging local leaders and security forces to cooperate in handing over fugitives. Al-Dhawi stressed the unit’s commitment to defeating the gangs and upholding regional security.