Zintan , Libya ( CNN ) -- Libyan rebels said Monday they remain in control of a key western town they seized from Moammar Gadhafi forces Saturday , although clashes continued just east of it . The Libyan government said earlier its forces had retaken Bir al-Ghanam but Jumma Ibrahim , a rebel spokesman in the western mountain region , said the claims were false . Rebel commander Nasser abu al Qassem told CNN Monday that the rebels are holding firm on the town 's eastern outskirts , squaring off against loyalists just a few miles away at a key road junction the rebels hope to take in the days ahead . He reported regular exchanges of fire between the two sides . The rebels entered Bir al-Ghanam in June but only held it for a matter of hours . Capturing the town puts the rebels closer to Tripoli than they 've been before . The town is about 85 kilometers ( 53 miles ) southwest of the Libyan capital . Meanwhile , bombs rained down on Tripoli overnight , the sky lit up by explosives . Multiple airstrikes and secondary explosions could be heard continuously for the better part of an hour . Entire neighborhoods of the city were already without electricity -- due to shortages of fuel -- prior to the pre-dawn strikes . Parts of Tripoli have been suffering for days from such blackouts . Gadhafi 's forces fired several rockets Sunday in Bir al-Ghanam , causing minor damage inside the town but no rebel injuries , al Qassem said . He reported no further rocket attacks so far Monday . Al Qassem said NATO forces had informed the rebels that the Gadhafi forces included up to 40 trucks outfitted with heavy weapons , and rebel forces had reinforced their positions Sunday and overnight into Monday . He was confident the rebel lines would hold and said there had been no concerted effort so far by the government troops to try to re-take Bir al-Ghanam . The battle to take Bir al-Ghanam lasted for nearly five hours Saturday and was fought on three fronts . CNN witnessed heavy rocket , mortar and anti aircraft gun fire from the rebel side at one front near a Gadhafi military encampment three kilometres west of the town . Gadhafi forces returned fire with rockets and mortars . Commanders said taking the junction where Gadhafi forces remain east of the town would provide a direct route to the coastal city of Azzawayia . They told CNN they would n't reveal a timetable to move further forward , but said there would be `` surprises from the fighters of Zintan very soon . For months , rebel fighters -- who control the eastern city of Benghazi and other areas -- have been trying to move closer to the capital . They are seeking the ouster of Gadhafi , who has ruled Libya for 42 years . CNN 's Ivan Watson contributed to this report from Tripoli .
NEW : NATO jets strike Tripoli hard . NEW : The US is now bombing Libya from the air, and it's not clear if they're doing so to stop Gaddafi or just because he has a bunch of nukes. The government had said Gadhafi 's forces had retaken the town . Rebels said they are holding firm .