Rebels: Our forces have advanced closer to Libyan city of Brega

NATO strikes overnight hit military depot in Tripoli

An explosion is seen following an airstrike in Tripoli, Libya, early Sunday, July 17, 2011. (AP / Tara Todras-Whitehill)

TRIPOLI, Libya — NATO jets destroyed a military storage facility and other targets in Tripoli's eastern outskirts early Sunday, days after key international players recognized Libya's rebel leadership as the country's legitimate representative.
Rebel attacks on the eastern oil city of Brega, meanwhile, stretched into their fourth day, with reports of pitched battles in the residential areas.
From the capital, bright flashes could be seen on the eastern horizon just after midnight, followed by a steady rumbling that went on for an hour. Planes could be heard crisscrossing the night sky lit up by a near full moon, and into Sunday afternoon as well.
NATO said its forces had hit a military storage facility, along with three radar sites and an anti-aircraft missile launcher east of the capital. The alliance reported it flew a total of 110 sorties and carried out 45 strikes Saturday.
Despite the boost given by the recognition of the rebels and a pledge to transfer Libya's billions in frozen assets to rebel coffers, the struggle against Moammar Gadhafi has settled into a stalemate since the mass uprising broke out in mid-February.
The rebels have set up an interim administration in the eastern city of Benghazi and seized control of the port city of Misrata and much of the western Nafusa mountain range. Gadhafi controls the rest of Libya from his stronghold in Tripoli.
NATO forces also struck several targets around Brega, possibly in support of the rebel assault on the town, destroying a tank, a pair of rocket launchers and five vehicles.More...