news4's jane watrel is live in fairfax county with the latest on this story. jane? >> reporter: well, general halifa hefter, not a young man, in his late 60s, but didn't hayes hesitate to go back to libya, fueled by an intense hatred for moammar gadhafi. [ gunfire ] >> reporter: as opposition forces battled the regime of moammar gadhafi, a new rebel commander has emerged. general hefter, who spent the last two decades living in fairfax county, after defecting from libya. >> and hefter is well-known. he's -- he is a man of dignity and decency. he is the type of person a lot of people hope is going to make a change on the ground with his leadership and military expertise. >> reporter: hefter lives with his family in this high-rise, located in the busy skyline section of fairfax county. attempts to leave a message for his family were unsuccessful, as the family's phone was no longer accepting voice mail. hefter left for libya several weeks ago to help the opposition forces organize. since none of the rebels have had formal military training. >> and this is really a bun