Sirte, Phoenicians founded near it the city Macomedes-Euphranta. The Italians occupied the city in 1912 and developed the settlement around the castle. After World War II it became prominent due to oil discoveries. It is the birthplace of Muammar Gaddafi, and where he was captured and killed. Sirte lies on the Mediterranean coast roughly half-way between Tripoli in the west and Benghazi in the east. It is the gateway to resource-rich Oil Crescent region that contains over 60% of Libya’s oil. The oil ports of Sidra, Ras Lanuf, Marsa Al-Brega and Zuwetina can all be controlled from the city. Now the city is set to be next major flashpoint as battle looms Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said that Sirte and Al-Jufra to the south represent a “red line” which Turkey-backed forces should not cross
Video: All Eyes on Sirte, as battle over ‘red line’ city looms
