Col. Hamid Hassy said Saturday that following scattered clashes with government forces, the rebels were now near the massive oil facilities of Brega.

He said the rebels have brought with them engineers to repair any damage to the refineries and terminal which have already changed hands half a dozen times since fighting erupted a month and a half ago.

He attributed the advance to several days of NATO airstrikes softening up Muamar Gaddafi's forces.

The airstrikes have kept rebels from being outright defeated by the better trained and equipment government forces on the battlefield but until now it has not been enough to completely turn the tide.