The battle began at 05:30 with a two-hour artillery bombardment during which the French coastguard ship Requin, protected by a screen of drifters and trawlers and escorted by two French destroyers, fired at Ali Muntar.
Slaget begyndte kl. 5.30 med et to-timers artilleribombardement under hvilket det franske kystbevogtningsskib Requin, beskyttet af en skærm af driftere og trawlere og eskorteret af to franske destroyere skød mod Ali Muntar.