The Ministry of Defence has informed residents that the military vehicles seen lately roaming some parts of the western region are moving under its command.

In view of public confusion over these military movements following the recent clashes in Tripoli, the Military Information Office of the Ministry of Defence issued a statement to allay those concerns.

The statement confirmed that the military patrol referred to was attached to the Anti-Terrorism Force and the 301 and 166 battalions of the General Staff of the Libyan Army.

It explained that the forces were on a mission to secure the area from Misrata to Tripoli and south to the Shweref region through Tarhuna, Bani Walid, and Gharyan.

"These military detachments are moving by orders and instructions from the General Staff and are charged with combing the mountains and valleys of the southern regions."

On Monday, videos circulated online showed military vehicles deployed in the central and southern districts of the country, as some media outlets claimed that the forces were affiliated with Khalifa Haftar or supporting the parallel government headed by the PM-designate of the east-based Parliament Fathi Bashagha.

On May 26, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, leading the UN-backed incumbent government -in his capacity as Minister of Defence- accused the former director of the Military Intelligence Department, Osama al-Juwaili, of acting without authorization after the later mobilized military forces in the westpart of the capital.