Libyan rebels forced government soldiers to withdraw from three cities in western Libya and broke through the siege in one more place, Libyan rebels announced today.
Yesterday's heavy bombing and the victory of the rebels in some cities, as well as the first diplomatic contact between China and the rebel leadership, testify to the continued decline of the forces of the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi since the clashes broke out on February 24 in Libya.
Local rebels have seized four towns in the west of the Nafuza mountain range, where government forces have been in control for months.
After a week of siege, government forces withdrew from the small towns of Jifran, Shakshuk, Qasr al-Haj and Bir Ayad in the west of the country.
So far, there are no reports of possible casualties.
NATO announced early this morning that it used combat helicopters for the first time in Libya, where they targeted military vehicles and equipment of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's army.
During the operation, NATO used French and British helicopters.
According to resolution 1973 of the UN Security Council, it is not allowed to send the ground army to Libya, but the use of all other means.
On March 31, NATO took over the leadership of the military operation in Libya, which was launched on March 19 by an international coalition with the aim of protecting civilians.
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