On 22 January, the 55th Warshifana Battalion, led by Muammar al-Dhawi, declared a state of alert after credible information reached him that the Ministry of Defense’s Undersecretary for Regions and Military Affairs Abdul Salam al-Zoubi was assembling a force to storm the Warshifana territories. That evening, dozens of armed pick-ups and several armoured vehicles were deployed by al-Dhawi to the al-Aziziyah area, about 20km southwest of Tripoli International Airport.
During the following night, a number of skirmishes took place near al-Aziziyah, but no major fighting erupted. Since 24 January, Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 combat drones have been operating frequently above the Warshifana territories, but without conducting an assassinations or attacks for the time being. On 26 January, members of the 55th Warshifana Battalion opened fire on a Bayraktar TB2 combat drone, but did not manage to hit it.