Derna, Libya
Derna
درنة | |
|---|---|
    Overview of Derna | |
Interactive map of Derna | |
%22%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%2250%25%22%20y%3D%2250%25%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20dominant-baseline%3D%22middle%22%20fill%3D%22%2354595d%22%20font-size%3D%2216%22%20font-family%3D%22sans-serif%22%3EDerna%20is%20located%20in%20Libya%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fg%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E)  Derna Location in Libya | |
| Coordinates: 32°45′49″N 22°38′10″E / 32.76361°N 22.63611°E | |
| Country |  Libya |
| Region | Cyrenaica |
| District | Derna |
| Population (2023) | |
• Total | 90,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| License Plate Code | 10 |
settlement_type. Replace with type.timezone. Replace with time_zone.mapsize1. Replace with map_size1.pushpin_map_caption. Replace with pushpin_caption.image_caption. Replace with caption.mapsize. Replace with map_size.image_skyline. Replace with image.Derna (/ˈdɜːrnə/; Arabic: درنة Darnah) is a port city in eastern Libya. With a population of around 90,000, Derna was once the seat of one of the wealthiest provinces among the Barbary States. The city is now the administrative capital of Derna District, which covers a much smaller area than the old province. Among Libyan cities, Derna has a unique location and physical environment, as it lies between the Jebel Akhdar (also known as Green Mountain), the Mediterranean Sea, and the desert and is the fourth most important port in Cyrenaica's northern coast after Benghazi, Bayda and Tobruk. The city is also home to people of many different backgrounds.
The city was the location of the famous Battle of Derna (1805), the first victory achieved by the United States Military on foreign soil. Occurring during the First Barbary War, the battle was fought between a force of roughly 500 US Marines and Mediterranean mercenaries and 4,000 or 5,000 Barbary troops.
Parts of the city were taken over by Islamic State (IS) militants in October 2014. In June 2015, the Shura Council of Mujahideen in Derna defeated IS and took control of the town, before being expelled themselves by the Libyan National Army in the Battle of Derna (2018–2019).
In September 2023, about a quarter of the city was wiped out by a catastrophic flood caused by the collapse of two dams over the Wadi Derna river against the backdrop of Storm Daniel, resulting in the death of thousands of its residents, although the reported death toll varies by source. Thousands more were injured and some 10,000 to 20,000 others were reported missing.
As of 2024, reconstruction efforts were underway to rebuild roads, bridges and key infrastructure.