Late this afternoon, at least one air strike set a massive oil tank ablaze at the Sidra oil export terminal about six miles west of town, the first time Libya’s oil infrastructure has been damaged in the month-long uprising.

Mr. Qaddafi claimed the oil tank was set ablaze by “Al Qaeda” fighters working with the rebels, despite multiple witnesses saying it was hit by one of his planes. Rebels also said the pipeline that delivers crude from southern fields to the port was damaged in the attack, but this could not be confirmed.

At least four rebels were killed in the attack, said a doctor at the Ras Lanuf hospital. In the mid-evening today, pro-Qaddafi forces were maneuvering with tanks near the entrance to Sidra port.