Tripoli sites bombed, rebels claim Misrata gains [May 10 2011]

NATO warplanes struck a command center in Tripoli early Tuesday in the heaviest bombing of the Libyan capital in weeks, while rebels — capitalizing on other NATO air strikes — reported battlefront gains that could ease the siege of the port city of Misrata. The NATO planes struck what the alliance called a command and control facility in downtown Tripoli, according to Italian Brig. Gen. Claudio Gabellini.

"All NATO targets are military targets," said Gabellini, who serves on NATOs planning staff at the headquarters in Naples. He denied that NATO was targeting Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, saying "We have no evidence about what Mr. Gadhafi is doing right now, and to tell you the truth were not really interested."

Gabellini also said 30 regime military targets have been hit since May 2 around Misrata, which has been under siege by Gadhafis forces for two months. The targets included 12 tanks, three self-propelled guns, three multiple-rocket-launchers, and various vehicles, Gabellini said. "Although its a real challenge for us to strike military targets in and around population centers like Misrata, while minimizing the risks to innocent civilians, we have been working hard to prevent attacks by pro-Gadhafi forces," Gabellini said.

In Misrata, the rebels only urban stronghold in western Libya, a doctor said rebel forces had pushed outward to Dafniya, a town on western outskirts. The doctor, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisals, said fighting was taking place both in Dafniya and near the airport south of Misrata. Were the rebels able to punch through past Dafniya, it would increase the prospects of a further advance through the coastal town of Zlitan and toward Tripoli itself.