Libyan rebels today claimed to have recaptured five strategic towns of Ajdabiya, Brega, Ras Lanuf, Uqayla and Bin Jawad. Reports say, French fighter jets struck hard at Muammar Gaddafi's forces destroying five fighter planes and two helicopters. 68-year-old Gaddafi's opponents had reportedly pressed onto the key town of Brega, 80 km to the west, after reclaiming Ajdabiya. Reports said, the tide may be turning due to the aerial attacks by US-led coalition forces. Al-Jazeera said that while it appeared that the rebels had taken over the town of Brega, it remained unclear who controlled the nearby oil port. Earlier, the rebels celebrated on the streets of Ajdabiya after driving pro-Gaddafi forces out of the town.The Arab channel said, Gaddafi's forces controlling the ring road that goes around Ajdabiya have now been cleared from that position. But Libyan government officials claimed that the army had been withdrawn to save residents from more bloodshed. The rebels seized the eastern coastal town of Brega and Uqayla without a fight. Also took control of Bin Jawad, about 50 km from Ras Lanuf, after coalition air attacks destroyed several tanks, seen smouldering on the road. The rebels claimed that they had full control of the oil town of Ras Lanuf and were pursuing Gaddafi's forces west.According to the French armed forces, around 20 of their aircraft supported by an AWACS surveillance plane struck targets yesterday, including five Galeb fighter jets and two MI-35 helicopters on the ground outside Misurata. British missile strikes also destroyed three armoured vehicles in Misurata and two more in Ajdabiya. Libyan state TV said there were more air strikes overnight at Sabha in central Libya, adding that military and civilian areas had been hit, but there was no independent confirmation. The State TV also reported of strikes near Gaddafi's power base of Sirte, on the Mediterranean coast east of Tripoli.