With fresh arms and a renewed vigor from an increasingly intense NATO bombing campaign, anti-government rebels in Libya have made tangible gains over the past few days. The rebels captured the airport in Misurata, and sent Gadhafi loyalists fleeing for cover. The airport served as a base and storage facility for Gadhafi’s forces and their heavy weapons. Rebels say they’ve seized weapons and ammunition from the airport. Rebels are now advancing west from Misurata to Ziltan, which is closer to Tripoli. Fighting has subsided on the eastern front around Ajdabiya as well. Gadhafi has gone underground, not even appearing at his son’s funeral, which has fed the rumor mill.

The first Predator drone strike has hit Libya, the US military confirmed today. It’s not clear where it struck, but explosions were heard outside Tripoli, in addition to in the area around the besieged city of Misurata. Some missiles fired by NATO apparently hit an underground bunker near the Gadhafi compound in Tripoli, which looks to have been used for military storage.

The situation in Misurata is bleak: hospital officials confirm 17 dead yesterday. As that continues, regardless of the UN effort you will hear the cries from residents of the need for more airstrikes or even ground troops. After all, the logic is exactly the same: the UN needed to prevent a massacre in Benghazi. Why not Misurata, the third-largest city in Libya, as well?

The idea that NATO command means that the US is relieved of duty in Libya is kind of silly. NATO members contribute to that command. The commander is likely to be an American general. We will still have a role to play.