Rebel fighters during heavy shelling by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi near Bin Jawad, March 5, 2011. Rebels in east Libya regrouped on Sunday and advanced on Bin Jawad after forces loyal to Gaddafi ambushed rebel fighters and ejected them from the town earlier in the day. Photo by Nasser Nouri.

Armed and unarmed rebels check cars passing toward the front lines. Photo Al Jazeera.

On the road outside the town of Brega, rebels assembled haphazardly to confront an early-morning raid by Gaddafi troops. Photo Al Jazeera.

Armed rebels return from the brushland outside the key oil town of Brega after driving away the last of the pro-Gaddafi forces who assaulted the airport, refinery and university early in the morning. Photo Al Jazeera.

Many rebels have told reporters that they never fired, much less held, a gun before the Libyan uprising broke out on February 17. Now they are on the front lines of the revolt, handling heavy weaponry acquired from army stockpiles. Photo Al Jazeera.

At the main checkpoint near the strategic oil town of Brega, men with what appeared to be better equipment and gear than their untrained comrades began to assemble. They wore emblems indicating their position as engineers or paratroopers and said they were defected "special forces" from Benghazi who were awaiting orders. Despite their more impressive appearance, they still seemed to lack the kind of discipline one might see in Western militaries, or perhaps even Gaddafi's own forces. These men were listening to reggae music as they attempted to repair their truck. Photo Al Jazeera.

Men rest outside a burned-out traffic-school building near the entrance to the Sirte Oil Company plant at Brega, a key rebel-held town near the front lines. Photo Al Jazeera.

Near the frontline oil refinery at Ras Lanuf, rebels captured and occupied a small military post, which had been looted and mostly deserted except for a collection of bedding in various states of disarray and some food. Photo Al Jazeera.

Near the frontline oil refinery at Ras Lanuf, rebels captured and occupied a small military post, which had been looted and mostly deserted except for a collection of bedding in various states of disarray and some food. Photo Al Jazeera.

Near an occupied military post at rebel-held Ras Lanuf, Libya's largest oil refinery, fighters have left large stockpiles of weaponry such as tank shells and assault rifle and anti-aircraft ammunition sitting exposed to the sun and sand next to eggs, bread and milk. Photo Al Jazeera.

Rebel fighters during heavy shelling by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi near Bin Jawad, March 6, 2011. Rebels in east Libya regrouped on Sunday and advanced on Bin Jawad after forces loyal to Gaddafi ambushed rebel fighters and ejected them from the town earlier in the day. Photo by Nasser Nouri.

Rebel fighters during heavy shelling by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi near Bin Jawad, March 6, 2011. Rebels in east Libya regrouped on Sunday and advanced on Bin Jawad after forces loyal to Gaddafi ambushed rebel fighters and ejected them from the town earlier in the day. Photo by Nasser Nouri.

Faraj Omran, reportedly a 7-year-old shepherd, was injured by shrapnel during the early-morning attack on Brega by pro-Gaddafi forces. His 12-year-old brother Hassan was reportedly among those who died. Photo Al Jazeera.

A man alleged by hospital staff to be a pro-Gaddafi fighter lies dead on the floor of a one-room morgue. Though he wore green, army-style trousers, the rest of his clothes appeared to bear no hint of a standard uniform. Photo Al Jazeera.

Hussein Omran, a 14-year-old shepherd, was also injured by shrapnel during the early-morning attack on Brega by pro-Gaddafi forces. His 12-year-old brother Hassan was reportedly among those who died. Here, as journalists swarmed into the room where Omran and his 7-year-old brother were being triaged, nurses coaxed him into showing the V-for-victory sign. Photo Al Jazeera.

Doctors eagerly display an identification card for Hassan Ahmed Mukhtar, an alleged pro-Gaddafi fighter who died during an early-morning assault on the key oil town of Brega. The card was issued by Libya but says that Mukhtar originally comes from Niger, leading doctors to associate him with the "African mercenaries" from neighboring states allegedly brought in by Gaddafi to terrorize citizens. Photo Al Jazeera.

Rebel fighters during heavy shelling by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi near Bin Jawad, March 6, 2011. Rebels in east Libya regrouped on Sunday and advanced on Bin Jawad after forces loyal to Gaddafi ambushed rebel fighters and ejected them from the town earlier in the day. Photo by Nasser Nouri.

Rebel fighters during heavy shelling by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi near Bin Jawad, March 5, 2011. Rebels in east Libya regrouped on Sunday and advanced on Bin Jawad after forces loyal to Gaddafi ambushed rebel fighters and ejected them from the town earlier in the day. Photo by Nasser Nouri.

Rebel fighters during heavy shelling by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi near Bin Jawad, March 5, 2011. Rebels in east Libya regrouped on Sunday and advanced on Bin Jawad after forces loyal to Gaddafi ambushed rebel fighters and ejected them from the town earlier in the day. Photo by Nasser Nouri.

Rebel fighters during heavy shelling by forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi near Bin Jawad, March 5, 2011. Rebels in east Libya regrouped on Sunday and advanced on Bin Jawad after forces loyal to Gaddafi ambushed rebel fighters and ejected them from the town earlier in the day. Photo by Nasser Nouri.