Libya: Airstrikes attack ground forces

After successfully establishing a no-fly zone over Libya's contested areas, the United States and allied forces moved to airstrikes on Muammar Gaddafi's ground forces, tanks and artillery.

The shift marks the second stage of a military campaign against Gaddafi's forces, the New York Times reports.

"We are interdicting and putting the pressure on Gaddafi’s forces that are attacking population centers,” said Rear Adm. Gerard P. Hueber, the chief of staff for the American-led operational command, it states.

Coalition forces are attempting to prevent Gaddafi from killing civilians and force his troops to retreat from rebel cities.

However, despite a fifth night of airstrikes, Gaddafi's forces continued to shell opposition-held towns, Al Jazeera reports.

Assaults on Misurata, Ajdabiya and Zintan continued late Wednesday despite the allied bombardment, it states.

In Misurata, Gaddafi's tanks rolled back into the city after Western air raids finished and shelled an area near the main hospital, and government snipers fired at people indiscriminately, according to residents and rebels. 

"Government tanks are closing in on Misurata hospital and shelling the area," a doctor there told Reuters.

A loud explosion was also heard in the capital Tripoli Thursday morning, and smoke could be seen rising near a military base, it states.

The Libyan government denies attacking civilians or opposition-held towns and claims its forces only act in self-defense.

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