Tripoli , Libya ( CNN ) -- Rebels marched toward Tripoli Wednesday , capturing a town southwest of the capital from Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi 's forces , a rebel fighter told CNN . Fighting also engulfed Misrata , east of Tripoli , where 14 rebels were killed and 42 others wounded , according to Mohamed Ibrahim , a rebel spokesman in the city . Three civilians also died in rocket attacks launched by Gadhafi 's men , Ibrahim said . CNN could not verify the information . Just west of Misrata , in Dafniya , 14 rebel fighters were killed and 42 were wounded Wednesday during a firefight with Gadhafi forces , said Ibrahim . The rebels ran over Al-Qawalish , a town of about 4,000 residents 50 kilometers ( 31 miles ) southwest of Tripoli , a stronghold for Gadhafi since the start of the uprising in February . Their attacks got under way around 7 a.m. from the north , the west and the south . On the western front , journalist David Adams said rebels were using Grad launchers , two Russian tanks and a number of other vehicles , rockets and guns . The rebels captured the town around 2:30 p.m. , entering from all three fronts , some having captured vehicles belonging to Gadhafi forces . Some rebel fighters could be seen breaking windows , shooting doors of houses and rummaging through families ' belongings . Some said they were looking for weapons , but they appeared to be looting . After they had lost control of the town , Gadhafi forces began shelling its periphery with Grad rockets . At least 12 government soldiers died , six were wounded and seven were captured , said Adams . Rebels , whose casualties included at least seven dead and 15 wounded , said their next target would be Al Assabiah , said Adams . Hassan Al-Jiwali , a rebel fighter from the Nafusa Mountains , said 50 of Gadhafi 's men were killed and 15 were captured in the offensive . Fighting has erupted in the western mountains in recent weeks as more than four months of battles have failed to yield a decisive victory for either side . The first United Nations joint mission to reach the devastated mountain region found many people in dire need of food . A World Food Programme statement said markets were not functioning due to limited fuel and cash , and basic services such as electricity and water were lacking in some areas . The rebels said they were moving northward , closer to the capital on the Mediterranean Sea . They intended to march to the city of Garyan , which sits on the main highway to Tripoli . Also Wednesday , NATO said its air forces targeted military re-fueling equipment in the Brega area southwest of the rebel stronghold of Benghazi . `` These precision strikes will limit the ability of pro-Gadhafi forces to threaten Libyan civilians and significantly degrade logistical support for Gadhafi 's campaign in eastern Libya , '' said Lt. Gen. Charles Bouchard , commander of Operation Unified Protector , in a news release . France has acknowledged arming the rebels , saying the weapons were for self-defense . However , French Defense Minister Gerard Longuet said Tuesday the weapons were no longer necessary because the rebels were becoming `` more autonomous . '' But debate continued over France 's decisions . In a contentious closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting Tuesday , Russia argued that , by sending weapons , France had violated the council 's resolution that authorized the use of NATO force in Libya . CNN 's Kareem Khadder and Kathryn Tancos contributed to this report .
NEW : NATO forces targeted military refueling equipment near Tripoli . Two rebels died in the fighting . Rebels capture Al - Qawalish , according to a rebel spokesman . The town is about 30 miles southwest of Tripoli .