Brega is the site of an oil refinery and port, and has an airport on its outskirts as well. It’s a critical city for Libya’s oil industry because of its location on the Gulf of Sirte and proximity to the country’s oil. It has an estimated 12,000 people.
![](http://images.csmonitor.com/csmarchives/2011/03/OCITIESLIST-graphic.jpg?alias=standard_900x600nc)
Rich Clabaugh/Staff
Map of Libya.