 In August, the rebels seized Zliten and Tripoli, ending the last vestiges of Gaddafist power.It is probable that without the NATO air strikes supporting the rebels, they would not have been able to advance west and Gaddafi's forces would have ultimately retaken control of eastern Libya.Only a few towns in western Libya such as Bani Walid, Sebha, and Sirte remained Gaddafist strongholds.