system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 what's going on in Libya right now? What was happening that led up to it?

Thank you!
gpt
Right now, the Libyan rebels are reclaiming the city of Tripoli and beginning to wind down the war.

Here's what happened before:

Gadhafi was the dictator of Libya for several decades. He's basically crazy; he has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of his own citizens, he was implicated in a case of terrorism or two, and more. Earlier this year, the entire region erupted in peaceful protests over dictators like him (but usually not as terrible) and economic conditions (there was lots of unemployment). In some countries, the government responded peacefully. In others, they cracked down. In Libya, the protesters fought back.

The eastern part of Libya was taken by the rebels rather quickly, and they set up a capital in a city called Benghazi. Then, there was a long stalemate during which U.S. and European forces bombed part of Libya in an attempt to help the rebels.

Recently, the rebels mounted an offensive on in the west, where Gadhafi was still powerful. From some mountains near Tripoli, they slowly fought their way to the city, and then found that their opposition melted away as they took it.