On 2 January, there were armed clashes between armed gangs near the al-Jumhouriya Bank in central Zawiyya causing panic among citizens. During the night from 2 to 3 January, a member of the Western Criminal Investigation Department was shot and severely wounded in Zawiyya by members of the militia led by Muhammed Bahroun (aka al-Far). Subsequently there were mobilizations and movements of militias in several parts of Zawiyya, including in the vicinity of the refinery. The Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) at the refinery (part of the al-Nasr Brigade) raised its state of alert.
On 3 January early in the night, the Libyan Army’s West Coast Military District announced the beginning of a large military operation in Zawiyya and its neighbouring districts under the directive of PM and Minister of Defence Abdul Hameed Dabaiba.
The aim of the operation is the ‘eradication of the sources of chaos and organized crime’ and to impose security, establish stability and target drug and fuel smuggling dens. The West Coast Military District called on the residents of Zawiyya and surrounding areas to report and stay away from suspicious places and dens as these will become the targets of military operations.
On 4 January in the morning, the West Coast Military District Commander Salaheddin al-Namroush, – who is also the Deputy Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Libyan Army and is a Zawiyyan himself – said he had ordered the start of military operations, beginning with the city of Zawiyya, in response to the demands of the local population to establish security and to restore the prestige and sovereignty of the state. The goal is to put an end to criminal activity after peaceful means have failed. The focus of the force is on discipline, avoiding provocation of citizens, and deterring criminals. Later in the morning, al-Namroush established his HQ for the operation in the Zawiyya refinery.
During the day, reinforcements from other garrisons of the West Military District gradually arrived in Zawiyya, mainly from the direction of Tripoli. In total, several hundred vehicles, including a few armoured, and at least about 1,800 troops were deployed to the area of operations, including Zawiyya’s Martyr’s Square, al-Rukanina and Khartoum Street in the centre of the city, Abu Sura (about 10 km SW of the city centre), Bir al-Ghanem Bridge (on the Coastal Road), the eastern entrance of Zawiyya, and areas immediately south of the coast.
Several hideouts of smugglers and other criminals were also raided downtown, in Abu Sura and in other places. In the afternoon, the HQ of the al-Kabwat (aka al-Silaa Brigade or 103rd Brigade) was stormed by forces of the West Coast Military District.
In a press release, the West Coast Military District Commander claimed that the first phase of the operation was a success. Al-Namroush said that a number of dens have been eliminated and work is underway to target other dens and pursue the wanted individuals. He said the forces will not retreat until all the goals are achieved. In the afternoon, al-Namroush met with notables and elders, House of Representatives (HoR) and High State Council (HSC) members, and civil society activists from the western region to explain and discuss the military operation. He stressed that the operation does not have any political objectives, but aims to maintain security and stability in the region. HSC head Khaled al-Mishri (a Zawiyyan) gave his full support to Zawiyya and the security campaign.
PM Dabaiba directed the Minister of Interior (MoI) Emad Trabelsi not to allow any armed vehicles affiliated with his ministry to leave their barracks without prior coordination with the relevant leaders of the military operation.