Upon receiving the news that the Neapolitans refused the Tripolitanians demands, the Pasha declared war on the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.

As a result of the Pasha's declaration of war the Neapolitan squadron offshore began a blockade of the coast of Tripoli on 23 August 1828.

The Neapolitans attempted to move into the harbor to bombard the city into submission but were forced into an engagement with the Tripolitanian navy and repelled.

Suffering losses and having made no progress against forcing Tripoli to abandon its demands for payment, the Neapolitan fleet withdrew on 29 August and sailed back to Naples.

The war continued on uneventfully to October when through French mediation the Neapolitans finally acquiesced to the Tripolitanian demands.