An opposition fighter passed a burning ambulance in Brega. Tyler Hicks/The New York TimesLibya: Who Is Propping Up Gaddafi? -- BBC
Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime is showing signs of fighting back.
His air force has been in action over the eastern town of Ajdabiya, his paramilitaries have been manoeuvring around the western towns of Misrata and Zawiya, and fighting has erupted around the oil terminal at Brega.
The opposition says military reserves have been moved up from Sebha and other parts of the south that are under regime control, and there are signs that Col Gaddafi has not yet deployed the full force at his disposal.
So what exactly can the Libyan leader call on, and how do those forces match up to what his opponents have?
Like other Arab strongmen rulers in recent history - Iraq's deceased President Saddam Hussein, Syria's deceased President Hafez Al-Assad, and Yemen's ruling President Ali Abdullah Saleh - Col Gaddafi places much of his trust in those of his own flesh and blood, empowering three of his sons with key military roles.
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My Comment: This collection of security and military forces has so far been ineffective in combating and defeating the opponents of Muammar Gaddafi's regime, and in head to head battles they have been routed. If a no fly zone is enforced, this ineffectiveness will only speed up the eventual fall and end of this 41year old regime.