there were heavy downpours which caused great damage to the town. Thousands of residents were stranded and few were reported dead or missing. Present day In the 2000s Ghat, as a garrison town, was the site of shootouts between Libyan security forces and al-Qaeda-linked fighters. The Fezzan campaign and border proximity were the regional components that included Ghat in the Libyan Civil War. On September 25, 2011 fighting moved onto Ghat where the last remnants of pro-Gaddafi loyalists in Fezzan were claimed to be stationed. NTC forces moved in, and took control of Ghat airport, located north of the city. By the next day, the NTC had control of the city itself and Tinkarine border crossing with Algeria. As of 2015, the city is controlled by independent Tuareg forces. Tourism Ghat is an important tourist destination due to the existence of prehistoric rock paintings and engravings in the neighboring Tadrart Acacus and Tassili N'Ajjer mountains, in addition to the beauty of the surrounding desert landscapes. A major tourist attraction in the town itself is the Fortress of Ghat on Koukemen hill. Ghat Airport is the local airport in Ghat. See also Berber Tuareg Green Sahara Fortress of Ghat List of cities in Libya References Jami Bey, "Ghat and its Surroundings", The Geographical Journal Vol. 34, No. 2 Aug. 1909, pp. 171–173 Populated places in Ghat District Oases of Libya Tuareg Baladiyat of Libya Berber populated places