Location: About 30 miles southwest of Tripoli in western Libya, on the Mediterranean coast.
Status: Opposition controlled.
Zawiyah fell to the opposition by Feb. 23. The city is strategically important because of its proximity to the capital, which remains under Qaddafi’s control. Qaddafi’s forces attempted to storm Zawiyah on Feb. 25, and again on Feb. 28 for another six hours, but the opposition held control. The rebels here are reportedly armed with tanks, Kalashnikov rifles, and anti-aircraft guns from defected troops. One of the country’s government-controlled oil refineries is located on the outskirts of Zawiyah.
