I
Arabic Ṭarābulus al-Gharb
City (pop. 1995 est.: 1,140,00), capital of Libya.
Located on the Mediterranean Sea, it is the country's largest city and chief seaport. Founded by the Phoenician s с 7th century BC, it was known as Oea in ancient times and was one of the three cities of the region of Tripolitania . It was controlled by the Romans from the 1st century BC and later by the Byzantines. It was taken by the Arabs in 645. Conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1551, it was made an Ottoman colonial capital. It was under Italy's control (1911–43), after which it was occupied by the British until Libya's independence in 1951. U.S. warplanes bombed targets within the city in 1983 in response to the Libyan government's alleged support for terrorist activity. Historical structures include numerous mosques and a Roman triumphal arch. In 1973 Al-Fateh University replaced the former University of Libya.
II
Arabic Ṭarābulus al-Shām
Seaport city (pop., 1998 est.: 160,000), northwestern Lebanon.
Founded с 700 BC, it became the capital of a federation of three Phoenician city-states: Sidon , Tyre , and Arvad. It was controlled by the Seleucids and Romans and taken by the Muslims in the mid-7th century AD. Besieged and partially destroyed by crusaders in the early 12th century, it was rebuilt by the later Crusaders (see Crusades ). It was occupied by the Egyptians in the 1830s, the British in 1918, and the British and Free French in 1941. It became part of the Republic of Lebanon in 1946. It has sometimes been a centre of Christian-Muslim conflict during Lebanon's history. It was also the scene of a siege in 1983 by Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) rebels against PLO leader Yāsir Arafāt . It is a major port, a commercial and industrial centre, and a popular beach resort. At the terminus of an oil pipeline from Iraq, it is an important oil storage and refining centre.