Awọn Italians ni lati dabobo mejeji awọn aala ati ki o ṣeto a North Africa Supreme Headquarters, labẹ awọn aṣẹ ti awọn Gómìnà-Gbogbogbo ti Italian Libya, Marshal ti Air Force, Italo Balbo. Supreme Headquarters ní awọn 5th Army (Gbogbogbo Italo Gariboldi) ni iwọ-oorun ati awọn 10th Army (Gbogbogbo Mario Berti) ni ila-oorun, eyi ti ni aarin-1940 ní mẹsan metropolitan ẹka ti nipa 13,000 ọkunrin kọọkan, mẹta Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (Blackshirt) ati meji Libyan Colonial ogun pẹlu 8,000 ọkunrin.
Balbo