Rebel forces advancing in Libya

Libyan rebel forces closed in Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte on Monday. Their rapid advance comes from powerful international airstrikes against Colonel Gadhafi’s troops.

The rebel’s offensive has restored to the opposition all the territory they lost over the past week. The fighters are now only within one hundred kilometers from Gadhafi’s power at the center of the country.

Sirte is a city with a significant air and military base. Colonel Gadhafi has made it Libya’s second capital over the years. The city of a hundred thousand is dominated by the leader’s Gadhadhfa tribe. But many are part of the Firjan, a rebel tribe who are against Gadhafi’s rule. Rebels are hoping to encourage them and other tribes there to rise up and to help in their capture of the city. Its fall to the rebels would largely open their way to move on the capital of Tripoli. 

About halfway between the two lies Libya’s third largest city of Misrata. The city has been under rebel hands for the past month and a half. Misrata came under renewed shelling on Monday.

Both the rebel and Gadhafi forces were right in predicting a tough fight which won’t be conceded easily.