Gaddafi forces recapture towns as rebels flee
It had taken more than five days of allied bombardment to destroy government tanks and artillery in the strategic town of Ajdabiyah before rebels rushed in and chased Gaddafi’s troops 300 km (200 miles) west in a two-day dash along the coast.
Two days later the rebels have been pushed back to close to where they started.
The Libyan army first ambushed the chaotic caravan of volunteers, supporters and bystanders outside Gaddafi’s hometown of Sirte, then outflanked them through the desert, a manoeuvre requiring the sort of discipline the rag-tag rebels lack.
The towns of Nawfaliyah, Bin Jawad and Ras Lanuf fell in quick succession to the lightning government counter-strike. Rebels showed no signs of trying to hold on to the next town, Brega, but carried on toward Ajdabiyah, where some regrouped.
Dozens of pick-up trucks mounted with machineguns milled around the western gate of Ajdabiyah. Confusion reigned.
Asked what was happening, one rebel said: “We don’t know. They say there may be a group of Gaddafi’s men coming from the south.” That would suggest another big flanking move through the endless desert which pins the coast road to the sea.
Cars carrying families and their belongings streamed out of Ajdabiyah toward the rebel stronghold of Benghazi.
In town after town, Gaddafi force’s have unleashed a fierce bombardment from tanks, artillery and truck-launched Grad rockets which has usually forced rebels to swiftly flee.
“These are our weapons,” said rebel fighter Mohammed, pointing to his assault rifle. “We can’t fight Grads with them,” he said earlier before joining the rush away from the front.
Without Western air strikes, the rebels seem unable to make advances or even hold their positions against Gaddafi’s armour. Warplanes flew over the battlefield for a time yesterday, but there was no evidence of any bombardment of government forces.
Rebel forces lack training, discipline and leadership.
When they advance it is often without proper reconnaissance or protection for their flanks.
“Whether we advance 50 km (30 miles), or retreat 50 km ... it’s a big country. They will go back the next day,” rebel spokesman Mustafa Gheriani told reporters in the opposition stronghold of Benghazi.
“This revolution really is only five weeks old. On the political front it is very organised,” he said. “Normally it takes six months to train a soldier ... We are talking about citizens who picked up guns to protect their homes.”
UN Security Council Resolution 1973 sanctions air power to protect Libyan civilians, not to provide close air support to rebel forces. That would also require troops on the ground to guide in the bombs. Without forward air controllers, intervening from the air in such a fluid battle space is fraught with risks.
Air strikes then may not be enough to stop the Libyan desert civil war turning into a stalemate.
The United States, France and Britain have raised the possibility of arming the rebels, though they all stressed no decision had yet been taken. “I’m not ruling it in, I’m not ruling it out,” US President Barack Obama told NBC.
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