Rebels in Libya have massed for a counter-attack against Muammar Gaddafi's forces in the east of the country.
A rebel spokesperson says they have been heartened by news of covert United States operations in Libya and the defection to Britain of the Libyan foreign minister.
However, senior US officials are warning Colonel Gaddafi is far from beaten, and they fear a protracted entanglement may result.
Despite almost two weeks of Western air strikes, Colonel Gaddafi's troops have used superior arms and tactics to push back rebels trying to edge westward along the coast.
The rebels say they need weapons more than anything else.
However, their forces are outnumbered by 10 to one according to Admiral Mike Mullen in comments to the US Congress.
US military officials say the air campaign against Colonel Gaddafi's forces has knocked out a quarter of his capabilities.
But Admiral Mullen says Colonel Gadaafi is not close to a military breaking point, despite nearly two weeks of coalition strikes.
Meanwhile, the head of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, says he strongly opposes the supply of weapons to rebel forces in Libya.
"We are there to protect the Libyan people, not to arm the people," he said.
The remarks put him at odds with the United States and Britain, which have not ruled out arming the rebels.
