• Glimpses of escalating conflict in Syria

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    Journalists and photographers remain severely restricted in their coverage of the Syrian conflict, but three images made available by Agence France Presse on Friday offer an insight into the deteriorating situation in the country.

    AFP - Getty Images

    The mother of 5 year-old Yazan Gassan Rezk holds his body during his funeral on Thursday, June 21. The child was killed by a sniper at a checkpoint in Qusayr, outside the flashpoint city of Homs, AFP reports.

    According to the United Nations, up to 1.5 million Syrians now need humanitarian assistance but the worsening violence means that no further aid workers are being sent to the field.

    AFP - Getty Images

    Soldiers from the Free Syrian Army (FSA) detain alleged members of the pro-government "Shabiha" militia in an undisclosed location in the north of Idlib province on Tuesday, June 19. The men were identified as Mehsin Mohamed Ahmed and Mohamed Azezz, from Aleppo city, and accused by the FSA of stealing from homes and passing information to the authorities.

    Blamed for some of the most barbaric massacres committed since the beginning of the uprising 15 months ago, the "Shabiha" are feared tools of a regime seeking to dissociate itself from atrocities, experts and activists say.

    Reuters reported on Friday that the bodies of 26 men believed to be from the "Shabiha" have been found in Aleppo province. 

    AFP - Getty Images

    FSA fighters at an undisclosed location in Syria on Thursday, June 21.

    On Thursday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta expressed the worry that shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles could find their way onto the Syrian battlefield, fueling concerns that sophisticated weapons might make their way to what Reuters described as "the wrong kind of Syrian rebels."

    Ben Hubbard, a correspondent for The Associated Press who recently spent two weeks in northern Syria, reported Thursday that the opposition remains divided and unable to break the regime's stranglehold on many large towns.

    Hubbard and two colleagues counted more than 20 rebel groups, with anywhere from fewer than 100 to more than 1,000 fighters each, and reported that there was very little coordination between the separate factions.

    "If we get military aid, the end will come quickly," Ahmed Abdel-Qader, a rebel coordinator in the village of Koreen, told the AP. "If not, we have no idea how this will end. We are here. We're not going back. God will decide the rest."

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  • Aris Messinis / AFP - Getty Images

    A Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) fighter inspects a room at ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi's Sirte palace, partly destroyed by NATO air raids according to fighters, on Oct. 9. Forces of Libya's new regime were on the verge of claiming full control of Muammar Gadhafi's hometown Sirte after seizing its showpiece conference center and university from his diehards.

    NTC fighter inspects Gadhafi's Sirte palace after new regime seizes conference center, university

    Reuters reports:

    Libyan transitional government forces said on Sunday they had captured landmark buildings in a thrust toward the center of Muammar Gadhafi's hometown Sirte, but were holding off an assault on its main square to allow civilians to escape the chaotic fighting.

    Taking Sirte would bring Libya's new rulers a big step closer to establishing control of the entire, sprawling North African country almost two months after they seized the capital Tripoli, but pro-Gadhafi snipers have slowed their advance.

    Read the full story here.

  • Libyan rebels suffer losses as they continue assault on Gadhafi strongholds

    Suhaib Salem / Reuters

    Libyan man reacts as others carry the body of an anti-Gadhafi fighter who was killed in Bani Walid, during his funeral in Tripoli Sept. 29. A senior commander and eight other anti-Gaddafi fighters were killed on Tuesday night in a rocket barrage fired by forces supporting Moammar Gadhafi in Bani Walid, medics said.

    Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP - Getty Images

    A Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) tank shells the city of Sirte from an outpost some 5 kms (3 miles) east of the entrance to the city, on Sept. 29. as Gadhafi diehards fought pitched battles with combatants loyal to Libya's new rulers for control of the ousted despot's birthplace.

    Esam Omran Al-fetori / Reuters

    Several anti-Gadhafi fighters who were injured amid heavy shelling in Sirte wait as they are transported in Red Crescent helicopters from Ras Lanuf to Benghazi on Sept. 28.

    Anis Mili / Reuters

    Forces loyal to Libya's interim rulers fire a rocket from an area about 2 km (1 mile) from the centre of the coastal city of Sirte on Sept 28.

    Reuters

    A rocket launcher explodes as forces loyal to Libya's interim rulers fire rockets from an area about 2 km from the centre of the coastal city of Sirte on Sept. 28.

     For more of the latest images from Libya click here to see the slideshow.

  • Libyan rebels get taste of how Gadhafi flew first class

    Zohra Bensemra / Reuters

    A Libyan rebel fighter sits in the sitting room of Moammar Gadhafi's private plane at the international airport in Tripoli, Aug. 28. The Arabic words translate as "Be thankful and we give you more".

    Zohra Bensemra / Reuters

    A Libyan rebel fighter sits in a bedroom of Moammar Gadhafi's private plane, at the international airport in Tripoli, Libya, Aug. 28.

    By Katie Cannon, Senior Multimedia Editor

    While the plane decor leans to the tacky side, wouldn't you love to enjoy the comfort that Gadhafi's plane offers when you travel? A full-size bed on a long-haul flight would be amazing!

  • Patrick Baz / AFP - Getty Images

    Libyan rebels remove the green flags from poles at the Abu Salim square in Tripoli on August 26, as the opposition forces announced the transfer of their leadership to the capital, boosted by a UN decision to free up millions of dollars in aid money and despite not having captured strongman Moamar Gadhafi.

    Removing Gadhafi's green flags in Tripoli

    By John Makely, NBC News

    From msnbc.com news services:

    TRIPOLI — Libyan rebels said they were sending in special forces units in their hunt for fugitive strongman Moammar Gadhafi, whose supporters are now pinned down in pockets of resistance in the capital, Tripoli.

    The rebel leadership announced it was planning to move from the eastern city of Benghazi, where the revolution to topple Gadhafi began six months ago, to govern the country from Tripoli.Rumors of Gadhafi or his sons being cornered or sighted, swirled among excitable rebel fighters engaged in heavy machinegun and rocket exchanges. But even after his compound was overrun on Tuesday, hopes of a swift end to the war were still being frustrated by fierce rearguard actions.

    For more of the latest images from Libya click here and also click here to see a slideshow of Ben Lowy's photographs of daily life inside the Libyan rebellion.

  • Libyans celebrate arrest of Gadhafi's son, rebels' arrival in Tripoli

    Gianluigi Guercia / AFP - Getty Images

    A Libyan man holds a flair on top of a building in Freedom Square as thousands of Libyans celebrate the arrest of Kadhafi's son Seif al-Islam and the partial fall of Tripoli into the hands of Libyan rebels on Aug. 21, in Benghazi, Libya.

    Gianluigi Guercia / AFP - Getty Images

    Thousands of Libyans celebrate the arrest of Kadhafi's son, Seif al-Islam, and the partial fall of Tripoli into the hands of Libyan rebels on Aug. 21, in Benghazi, Libya. Libyan rebels have reached the highly symbolic Green Square in the center of Tripoli, Sky News said early on Aug. 22, showing scenes of jubilant crowds gathered there. Young men, many waving the red, black and green flag of anti-regime forces, were shouting and dancing in obvious joy, shouting Allahu Akbar (God is greatest) and some firing rifles into the air. As many of the men flashed V-for-victory signs and shouted "tell Moamer (Kadhafi) and his sons that Libya has men," a Sky correspondent said people were lighting fires with posters of the Libyan strongman and the solid green flag of the regime that they had torn down.

     

    Read the full story here and check out more image from the rebel uprising and Gadhafi's life.

  • Bob Strong / Reuters

    Libyan rebel fighters run for cover from incoming fire as they advance through the town of Maia, 15 miles from Tripoli, Aug. 21.

    Libyan rebels advance on Tripoli

    NBC, msnbc.com and news services report:

    An Associated Press reporter with the rebels rapidly advancing toward Tripoli saw them take over the base of the Khamis Brigade, 16 miles west of the capital. After a brief gunbattle, Gadhafi's forces fled.

    Gadhafi's 27-year-old son Khamis commands the 32nd Brigade, also known simply as the Khamis Brigade, one of the best trained and equipped units in the Libyan military.

    Inside the base, hundreds of rebels cheered wildly and danced, raising the rebel flag on the front gate of a large, gray wall enclosing the compound. They seized large stores of weapons from the base, driving away with truckloads of whatever arms they could get their hands on. One of the rebels carried off a tube of grenades, while another carted off two mortars.

    Read more about developments in Libya and the rebels' advance on Tripoli here.

  • Rebels launch push in western Libya, aim for coast

    Florent Marcie / AFP - Getty Images

    A fighter loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi is captured by rebel forces on Aug. 6, as they advance on the town of Bir Ghanam, which according to the rebel commanders was eventually captured, 50 miles south of the Libyan capital Tripoli. Picture received Aug. 7.

    AP reports:

    Rebel commander Col. Jumma Ibrahim said opposition forces captured Bir Ghanam and had moved a few miles beyond it, as well as making advances on a separate highway to Sabratha. On that highway, rebels at one point came to within 18 miles (30 kilometers) of Libya's coastline, but their convoy then came under heavy fire and they retreated, witnesses said.

    "Now he can only defend himself against us," Ibrahim said of Gadhafi. "Our main destination is Tripoli, but we cannot jump directly to Tripoli. We go one by one."

    Read more here.

  • Heavy fighting in Libya's western mountains

    By David R Arnott, NBC News

    A week ago we published a set of pictures by AFP photographer Colin Summers, who is traveling with rebel fighters in the west of Libya. Here are some more images taken by Summers in the past few days.

    Colin Summers / AFP - Getty Images

    A rebel fighter takes cover during fighting in the village of Josh, at the foot of the Nafusa mountain range, in western Libya, as fighting continues between rebel forces and those loyal to Moammar Gadhafi, on July 31. The Nafusa region has seen heavy fighting since the rebels launched a major offensive earlier in July in a drive on the capital Tripoli.

    Colin Summers / AFP - Getty Images

    Rebel fighters make a rocket launcher from steel pipes in a workshop in Zintan on July 30.

    Colin Summers / AFP - Getty Images

    Men pray over the bodies of two soldiers loyal to Moammar Gadhafi in Zintan on July 27.

    See more images of the conflict in Libya in our slideshow.

  • Libyan rebels battle for control of Qawalish

    Colin Summers / AFP - Getty Images

    Rebel fighters run for cover at the front line near the southwest desert hamlet of Qawalish on July 24 as forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi start attacking them.

    Colin Summers / AFP - Getty Images

    Rebel fighters launch a rocket at the front line near Qawalish on July 24.

    Colin Summers / AFP - Getty Images

    A rebel fighter carries a rocket at the front line near Qawalish on July 24.

    See more images of the conflict in Libya in our slideshow.

  • Rebels establish an airstrip in Libya's western mountains

    Ammar Awad / Reuters

    Rebels wave as an Air Libya aircraft takes off from the Rhebat airstrip on July 12, 2011. Ali Tarhouni, the oil and finance minister in the council opposing Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi, opened the airstrip linking the rebel capital Benghazi with a remote western mountain stronghold south of Tripoli, and promised a military breakthrough within days.

    Reuters reported on Tuesday that Ali Tarhouni, the oil and finance minister, arrived and departed by air at the Rhebat air strip which was recently just a stretch of mountain highway. The airstrip could play a large role in resupplying the rebels in the region. The area, once seen as a minor battlefield, is taking on more importance as rebels apply pressure eastward toward the outskirts of the capitol.

    The Associated Press reported on July 10 that Gadhafi’s regime is trying to show that it is in control of the country’s western mountains.

    See more pictures from the conflict in Libya in our slideshow.

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