(Image source: Sky News)
BY TRACY PFEIFFER
ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY
You're watching multisource world news analysis from Newsy.
The conflict between rebel forces and those loyal to Col. Muammar Gaddafi has been raging for six months.
But US military officials say -- Gaddafi’s forces used a scud missile against the rebels for the first time.
REPORTER, EURONEWS: “News agencies quoted unnamed U.S. officials saying a SCUD missile landed east of the rebel-held oil town of Brega. The same sources said the missile hit the desert and there were no casualties. It’s unclear what Gaddafi might have been targeting.”
The Atlantic Wire explains why Gaddafi’s forces were possibly targeting the rebel-held Brega.
“It was reported Monday that [Gaddafi] forces are planning to destroy an oil refinery in Brega in order to halt any profits the rebels reap from the valuable resource. According to rebel spokesman the refinery could generate up to $35 million a day in exports, if they could export it.”
Analysts say scud missiles would give Gaddafi the ability to attack rebel forces in areas outside government control. But as Sky News explains -- that’s only if they work.
REPORTER, SKY NEWS: “Col. Gaddafi is thought to have perhaps as many as 240 of the scud’s b-variant missiles. They bought those back in the 1970s from the Soviets so it’s unlikely that they’re all still operational. The scud itself, well it is an aging but potentially deadly weapon.”
One rebel spokesperson says -- the missile’s use is a sign of Gaddafi’s desperation. The BBC has his statement.
“This man will use any weapon necessary to keep his regime going and resume his rule, even for few hours.”
And this latest development -- as rebel forces claim victory in the important town of Zawiyah.
Reports say Zawiyah is where Gaddafi’s forces get most of their supplies -- and oil.
Voice of America explains the town’s significance.
“Rebels said Monday they were in control of most of Zawiya, a strategic town 50 kilometers west of Mr. [Gaddafi’s] power base in the capital, Tripoli. Rebel fighters entered Zawiya Saturday in their closest approach to the capital since government forces crushed Zawiya’s rebel movement in the early weeks of the uprising.”
Scud missiles were notoriously used by Saddam Hussein against coalition forces during the Gulf war. Sky News reports they were responsible for most deaths outside of Iraq and Kuwait in that conflict.
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