The rebels scored a huge victory on August 23rd, with the help of NATO airstrikes, as they took over Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi's compound. Hundreds of fighters from Misurata, seasoned from months of previous fighting, led the attack. Celebratory gunfire could be heard all over the city of Tripoli, Libya, as rebel fighters raided the compound for weapons and mementos of Qaddafi's dictatorship, seizing machine guns, a gold-plated rifle, and a golf cart. Crowds immediately gathered to celebrate the monumental victory for the rebel cause. The city's Green Square immediately took on the new name of Martyrs' Square, as rebel supporters celebrated late into the night (Kirkpatrick). .
Despite the extravagant celebration, Colonel Qaddafi and his family were not captured inside the compound. In fact, Qaddafi, who remains at large, announced on a local radio station that his retreat was merely "a tactical move," according to Reuters. Furthermore, he said the NATO airstrikes conquered his compound - not the rebel fighters - and vowed "martyrdom" in the ongoing uprising. Qaddafi militiamen staged a small counterattack to the rebel intruders and were able to stave off the attackers for quite some time (Kirkpatrick). .
"We believe that he is either in Tripoli or close to Tripoli. Sooner or later he will be found, alive and arrested - and hopefully that is the best outcome we want - or if he resists, he will be killed," said Guma el-Gamaty, a spokesman for the rebel party (Kirkpatrick). .
While rebel victory seems to be drawing close, especially with the take over of Bab al-Aziziya, they are far from unified. Western mountain groups fight together in individual brigades, identified only by the name they leave in spray paint. Other groups consist of Tripoli residents who have no military backgrounds but took up arms to join the cause (Kirkpatrick).
Militiamen loyal to Qaddafi are still putting up a fight in neighborhoods such as Al Hadba and Abu Salim, but injury reports are coming in from doctors all around Tripoli.
