Moammar Gadhafi’s hometown of Sirte was targeted by the International forces on Sunday night. A formidable obstacle that must be overcome as revels quickly closed in on the regime stronghold, for the government opponents were reaching the capital Tripoli.
In Tripoli, a heavy bombardment has begun after nightfall with at least nine loud explosions and anti-aircraft fire heard, said the reporter in an (–foul word(s) removed–)ociated Press in the city.
Along the Mediterranean coast in Sirte strategically Gadhafi controlled the west. It is a stronghold of support for Gadhafi that could be difficult for the rebels to overrun, while the rebel held the east. If the rebels in any way or another overcome Sirte, momentum for a march on the capital would skyrocket.
It was reported early in the day that the rebels regained two-key oil complexes along the coastal highway that runs from the opposition held eastern half of the country toward Sirte and further than that to the capital. The advance retraced their steps as the first rebel march toward the capital, was moving quickly westward.
The latest rebel movement was their advancement during the day reaching as far as west as the oil port of Ras Lanouf around 130-miles (120-kilometers) east of Sirte, said the report.
The Libyan state television confirmed after nightfall regarding the air raids on Tripoli and Sirte.
Before the bombing begun there was flying warplanes overhead and at least six loud explosions heard, according to the foreign journalists who were taken by the regime to Sirte.
There were driven around the city swarming with soldiers on patrol and full-armed civilians wearing green bandanas that signaled their support for Gadhafi, the report said.
In western Libya in the city of Misrata there were fighting between the rebels forces against Gadhafi’s loyalists who fired the residential areas from the tanks.
Misrata is located between Sirte and Tripoli on the coastal road; it is one of the cities in western Libya that fighting against the regime and suffered brutal crackdowns.
