On 10 October, Government of National Stability (GNS) Prime Minister Osama Hammad accused Government of National Unity (GNU) Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba of supporting the return of ex-Government of National Accord (GNA) Minister of Defence Mahdi al-Barghati to Benghazi in order to destabilize the city with his help.
On the same day, Benghazi’s Internal Security Agency (ISA) said it had neutralized the ‘sabotage cell’ in the al-Salmani district of Benghazi within two hours on 6 October. The ISA claimed twelve people were arrested, while some were wounded and several were killed. The ISA said the men involved had come to Benghazi together with Mahdi al-Barghati. According to the GNS Minister of Health Othman Abduljalil, the latest tally of the 6 October clashes in Benghazi was 15 dead, six of them from the Libyan National Army (LNA), and 16 wounded, eight from the LNA.
The Director of the Information and Investigation Department of the ISA, after interrogating detainees of the al-Salmani group led by Barghati, stated that the group was linked to individuals associated with PM Dabaiba. A total of 20 RPGs, 100 Kalashnikovs, 60 other rifles, and extensive stocks of ammunition and hand grenades were seized.
On 13 October, the Military Prosecutor of Benghazi Faraj al-Sousaa filed an indictment against Barghati for attempting to destabilize Benghazi. According to him, in total, the armed group around Barghati was 40 strong.