On 7 August, the Libyan National Army (LNA) started to deploy troops on a larger scale via Sirte to the Fezzan region (southwestern Libya). The LNA plans to reinforce the troops already present there, especially in the areas of Sebha, Awbari, Brak al-Shati, Ghat, Qatrun and Adiri (in the western Wadi al-Shatti). On 8 August, about 100 LNA armoured vehicles passed Sirte heading west.
On 8 August, the High State Council (HSC) called on the Presidential Council (PC) in its capacity as Supreme Commander, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dabaiba in his role as the Minister of Defence (MoD) and the Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Libyan Army Muhammed al-Haddad to raise the alert level of all troops and prepare to confront a potential threat from the southwest. The HSC said that the LNA’s troop movements in this region over the previous two days ‘have been observed with great concern and are rejected’ with fears these movements could lead to a return to armed conflict. The same day, PC head Muhammed al-Menfi held a meeting on the security situation with several commanders of security forces from the western region. The Libyan Army General Staff said it expects the LNA to advance on Ghadames.
Western Coast Military District Commander and Libyan Army Deputy CoS Salaheddin al-Namroush instructed Libyan Army units in the Western Coast Military District to increase operational readiness in light of LNA troop movements in Fezzan. This saw various Misratan and Tripoli armed groups mobilising personnel.
On 8 August, an LNA spokesman announced on behalf of Saddam Haftar, Chief of Staff of the LNA’s Ground Forces, that the deployment of troops to the southwest of the country is part of a comprehensive plan to secure the borders and improve stability in these areas as ordered by LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar. The deployment of the troops is not directed against anyone, but is in particular a reaction to the developments in the neighbouring states, which give rise to fears of an increase in the activities of organized crime, drug smugglers and human traffickers, as well as ter-rorists. He said they are ready to confront any threat to Libya’s security and stability. Furthermore he stated that they are closely following all reactions to these troop deployments and note that some of the statements made by certain parties are part of cheap political and financial blackmail. In Ghadames itself, the situation remained calm. The Zintan-led 17th Border Guards Battalion (Ghadames) noted the presence of ‘foreign troops’ in its area of responsibility. They claimed they are ready to confront them. Meanwhile, the commander of the LNA’s 128th Brigade, Hassan al-Zadma, arrived at the Toum al-Bari border crossing to Niger.
On 12 August, the Zintanis deployed about 100 troops with 25-30 vehicles to al-Qaryah.