How did rebel control of Al-Zāwiyah help the advance on Tripoli in August 2011?

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In August 2011, rebel control of Al-Zāwiyah, a town west of Tripoli and the site of a major oil refinery, was a strategic gain that aided their advance on the capital. This capture provided the rebels with control of a key area and resources, weakening Muammar Qaddafi's hold on the region. The rebels then advanced into Tripoli, securing control of parts of the capital by August 22, 2011.12