Moammar Gadhafi's forces have reached the outskirts of another rebel stronghold after making recent gains in Libya's west.

A resident and a rebel fighter in Ajdabiya say government fire is pounding the city's entrance. The resident says warplanes are taking aim at fuel depots, forcing families either to flee the city or hide inside.

Rebel spokesman Ahmed al-Zwei said Gadhafi's forces were still some 12 miles (20 kilometers) away but were hurling long-range missiles. He said warplanes bombed the western entrance, killing at least one fighter, The Associated Press reported.

Gadhafi has scored several recent victories, including the capture of Zwara, the last rebel-held town west of Tripoli, and a tightening blockade on Misrata, Libya's third-largest city.