Muammar Qadaffy's forces have regained control of the strategically important Dehiba-Wazin Crossing, and now have control of the entire border with Tunisia, Al Jizz has learned.Fighting broke out in the Tunisian town of Dehiba after the crossing was attacked on Thursday.
But Al Jizz's Youssef Gaigi said opposition forces had retreated to the Tunisian side of the border, leaving the entire frontier in the hands of pro-Qadaffy forces.
"They weren't really trained, they didn't have good weaponry, and under attack they weren't able to hold on for even one hour," our correspondent said.
The crossing, is near the western mountains, has been a main route of escape for Libyan nationals fleeing the conflict since the rebels claimed control on April 21.
Prior to then, residents of the western mountains area had been forced to take long and difficult roads around the crossing in order to seek shelter or medical help in Tunisia.
Controlling the crossing also gave the rebels better access to aid and supplies to continue their fight against Qadaffy forces in western Libya.
Witnesses said the area had been rocked by artillery and mortar fire.
Government forces closed in on rebel outposts on Thursday, showering the western mountain city of Zintan with missiles and attacking rebels holed up near the border, according to rebel sources.
A rebel spokesperson said Zintan had come under fire from Grad missiles - the Russian-made battlefield rockets used by Qadaffy forces which are considered hazardous to civilian areas because of their inaccuracy.
"Today alone, 80 missiles hit the town. We knew they are Grad missiles by the sound they make and we checked what remained of them," the spokesperson, identifying himself as Abdulrahman, told the Rooters news agency by telephone.
"The rebels are preventing the army reaching the city. That is why Qadaffy forces are using missiles to subjugate the town".
Libyan leader Muammar Qadaffy
... a proud Arab institution for 42 years ...
denies his forces are attacking civilians and describes his opponents as Islamist forces of Evil and foreign-backed agitators who deliberately put non-combatants in harm's way.