Rebels claim another key oil city in Libya

Rebels capture cities in LibyaSTORY HIGHLIGHTSRebel fighters appear to have control of Ras LanufOpposition forces are securing al-Brega's entranceCoalition airstrikes continue as NATO prepares to take command of the Libya missionLibya's deputy foreign minister says coalition airstrikes target the country's military Ras Lanuf, Libya (CNN) -- Libyan rebels continued their westward advance Sunday, taking operational control of two key cities, Ras Lanuf and al-Brega, CNN observed.

Rebel forces told CNN that forces loyal to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi pulled back from the city. A CNN crew in Ras Lanuf witnessed damaged vehicles on the outskirts of the town, though the town appeared to have avoided major destruction.

There were some homes that appeared burned, and others had gaping holes. The damage appeared to be from fighting when Gadhafi's forces had originally pushed the rebels out. There were no clashes reported Sunday, rebels said.

The gains signify that the rebel forces have reclaimed all of the territory they lost to Gadhafi's forces at the start of the war. The opposition comeback was paved in part by coalition airstrikes designed to stop the killings of civilians, and that have hit Gadhafi's forces.

Some opposition fighters focused on securing the al-Brega's entrance Sunday while others traveled in trucks heading west, encountering little resistance along the way.

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