Zawiya , Libya ( CNN ) -- Rebel fighters in Libya , trying to take over a key western city , faced stiff resistance from Moammar Gadhafi 's forces on Wednesday , a rebel commander said . The fighters hope to seize Zawiya , about 30 miles west of the capital , in an effort to advance on the capital of Tripoli in their fight to topple the Gadhafi regime that has controlled the North African country for decades . `` Most of Zawiya is now in rebel hands , but there are snipers and shelling coming from the east of the city , '' rebel commander Col. Radwan Fheid said . `` The snipers are near Zawiya hospital . People are leaving . They ca n't stay because of the shelling . These are the last days , God willing . '' Rebels are setting up checkpoints and field hospitals to treat the wounded , many of whom have been shot or struck by shrapnel . At a hospital in nearby Yefren , doctors said they had treated more than 200 patients over the past four days -- some of them rebel soldiers from any of several front lines , some of them civilians . Among the latter was a 9-year-old girl who was in her house when it was hit by a missile , sending shrapnel into her , a doctor said . `` Unfortunately , there is more than 90 % chance that she may lose her right arm here , '' he said . Medical staff said they were donating their own blood to keep their patients alive . One man , both legs wrapped in bandages , cried out in pain . Doctors said there were not enough staff members to properly take care of the patient load . Zawiya is west of Tripoli on a strategic supply route . Rebel control of Zawiya would represent a major advance toward putting a stranglehold on the Gadhafi-controlled seat of power . Col. Ahmed Banni , military spokesman for the opposition National Transitional Council , said Tuesday that rebels hope to enter the capital by the end of the month . The Obama administration has agreed to a NATO request for two additional Predator drones to conduct operations over Libya , a U.S. defense official said Wednesday , a day after the drones began flying . The United States has earmarked up to six drones for the Libya operation in recent months , although until generally only two drones have flown at any one time ; some have been armed with missiles . In Washington , the Libyan Embassy was officially re-opened Wednesday by its ambassador amid a crowd of proud Libyan Americans waving flags and singing Libyan songs . `` This embassy will serve as a symbol of the new Libya here in the U.S. , '' Ambassador Ali Aujali said outside the Watergate building in Washington where the embassy is located . `` We will work tirelessly not only to serve the needs of the Libyans studying , living and traveling in this country , but also to thank the United States government on behalf of the Libyan people everywhere for its continuing support for transition to a free and democratic nation . '' The mission now represents the Transitional National Council ( TNC ) , the rebel movement based in Benghazi , that the United States recognized as the rightful government of Libya on July 15 . The embassy was closed in March after the State Department expelled all diplomats loyal to Gadhafi . Aujali , who previously represented the Gadhafi regime in Washington , resigned his post in February , and has since represented the TNC in Washington . He was formally accredited as head of the Libyan mission last week . On Tuesday , Col. Roland Lavoie , a spokesman for NATO 's military operation , said that `` anti-Gadhafi forces are now assuming control of the key approaches to Tripoli . '' He described the advances as `` the most significant anti-Gadhafi territorial gain we have seen in months . '' Since the end of July , as the threat from pro-Gadhafi forces has diminished , thousands of people have returned to their homes in the western Nafusa mountains , he said . Since Friday , the northwest coastal city of Misrata has been free of pro-Gadhafi forces , he said . And the threat from nearby Zlitan has diminished as pro-Gadhafi forces are being pushed farther west , he added . Lavoie said rebels had occupied Surman and Sabratha west of Tripoli but added that the regions were `` still contested . '' However , Libyan state television reported that pro-Gadhafi forces and tribal fighters were `` cleansing the city of Sabratha from the gangs of traitors '' and had secured the coastal road , a key supply pipeline into Tripoli . Though the center of Zawiya was under rebel control , `` there 's still reports of fighting also in the suburbs , '' Lavoie said . A spokesman for the Gadhafi government offered a different view on Tuesday . `` We are doing very well , '' Ibrahim Musa said . `` It 's true that it 's a bit slow ; people are still saying that we 're not acting immediately and that we 're having problems in Surman and Sabratha and whatnot because of armed gangs . That 's true , but , God willing , we are able to lead this battle successfully . We will achieve peace and victory . '' He added , `` We are fighting NATO , not the tens or hundreds of armed gang members . Our war is with the crusaders . '' CNN 's Barbara Starr contributed to this story .
In hospital in Yefren , a 9-year - old girl may lose her arm . White House OKs two more strikes for weeks . Most of Libya is in ` ` rebel hands , '' he says . Snipers , they are in the heart of the city .