This settlement is only 10km/6mi away from the Libyan border and was important in ancient times under the name Banaris
From 1940 to 1942, there was embittered fighting over it, for it was near the border between Egypt and the former Italian colony of Cyrenaica, which is part of Libya today.Desert roadto Siwa oasisFrom Mersah Matruh, it is worth making a trip on the continuously asphalted desert road which leads south into the oasis of Siwa.

