Misratah (pop. 350,000) is a city in northwestern Libya. It is sometimes spelled Misrata or Misurata. The city lies on the Mediterranean Sea about 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of Tripoli, the Libyan capital. Misratah is Libya’s third largest city. Only Tripoli and Benghāzi have more people. Vast deserts lie southwest of Misratah. The Port of Misratah, in the Qasr Ahmad (also spelled Gasr Ahmed) neighborhood, is Libya’s largest and busiest port. Misratah was the site of heavy fighting during the 2011 Libyan rebellion against the rule of Mu’ammar al-Qadhafi.
Misratah has a long history as a trade center. The ancient Romans called it Tubartis. Muslim Arabs conquered the region in the 600’s. Arab traders used the town as an oasis caravan stop. Ottoman Turks conquered the area in the 1500’s. Italy invaded the Libyan coastal regions in 1911. It took control of Misratah in 1912. During World War II (1939-1945), the city came under British control. Libya gained independence in 1951.
During the spring of 2011, Libyan rebels clashed with soldiers loyal to Qadhafi. Qadhafi had led Libya’s government since 1969. The two sides battled in Misratah until Qadhafi’s forces withdrew to suburban positions. From there, they shelled the port and rebel positions in the city. More than 1,000 people, many of them civilians, were killed. Thousands of people fled the fighting through the port at Qasr Ahmad. There, international relief ships delivered food, water, and medical supplies. By August, rebel forces controlled most of Libya, including Misratah and Tripoli. Qadhafi was killed in October.
See also Libya .
