Forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi recaptured Brega after forcing the rebels to retreat from the oil-rich city. It is learnt that the rebels are now heading east toward Ajdabiya after retreating from Brega. The rebels started retreating after coming under rocket and artillery fire from the Gaddafi forces. Al Jazeera reported the Gaddafi forces had pushed the opposition forces back 20-30km east of Brega towards Ajdabiya.
Brigadier General Mark van Uhm, NATO's chief of allied operations, said that the western town of Misurata was NATO's new "number one priority" as the residents of this city have been besieged for weeks by pro-Gaddafi forces. "Misurata is a number one priority because of the situation on the ground over there. We have confirmation that in Misurata tanks are being dispersed, being hidden, [and] humans being used as shields in order to prevent NATO sorties to identify targets," he said.
Van Uhm said that coalition airstrikes have forced the Gaddafi's troops to adjust their tactics and they are now travelling in trucks and light vehicles to the front line in order to hide their tanks and armored vehicles from sight. He added that about 30 per cent of Gaddafi's military power has been destroyed by NATO so far. The coalition forces had also struck targets near Misurata on Monday.
Meanwhile, the rebels are gearing up to load their first oil shipments on Tuesday. The tanker Equator was due to arrive at the eastern port of Marsa el Hariga, near Tobruk. The tanker can carry a million barrels of crude.
