On 8 November in the evening, the Zintani-led Southwest Branch of the PFG (again) stopped a 444 Brigade patrol in the vicinity of an oilfield in the al-Hamada al-Hamra desert. About 16 members of the 444 Brigade were arrested and several vehicles were confiscated after a brief skirmish.
On 9 November, the prisoners were released and warned not to enter the area again. While the PFG blamed the 444 for intending to take over the oil fields, the 444 denied this and stressed they are concerned with confronting smuggling.