Among Libya’s plethora of militias, units with greater coherence and aggression have won territory and influence.

Misrata was a commercial heartland for Libya prior to the revolution, and the battle for that city proved to be one of most crucial in the 2011 war against Mummar Qadhafi’s regime.

In the post-revolutionary conflict, the effectiveness of the city’s militias (and the support that they lent to the Islamist side in the dispute over the legitimate government) has made Misratans among the most significant players in Libya’s war and peace talks.

But the Islamic State group has now consolidated itself along the coast in Sirte, and seeks to expand still further.

The extremist threat is one that Libya’s other Islamists had preferred to ignore but are now prepared to confront, as they too become the targets of IS’ intolerance of any who oppose its rule.

Misrata’s militias have certainly played a disruptive role in Libya, where the power and local loyalties of armed groups have inhibited the development of a reconciled national state. But forces within Misrata have at least been influential in accepting Libya’s nascent unity government, and the city’s battle against IS will inevitably be seen as one between two visions for Libya’s future.

Misrata is preparing itself for the worst, as IS forces advance towards its environs.

In response to the worsening situation, the Misratans declared the area between Kararim and Abu Gharayn to be a military zone.

A number of Misratan brigades also staged a military parade in the middle of February in Abu Gharayn, in a deliberate show of force.

They have also closed all the roads and gates that lead from Misrata to Sadada, Bani Walid, Dafiya, and Bir Duvan.

Misrata has come under criticism before for not taking sufficient action against IS, but the Misratans are finally preparing themselves for action.

It was reported this month that there were a large number of military vehicles and fighters drawn from many of the brigades that are affiliated with the Misratan military council amassing in the town.

Sources added that the Commander of Military Intelligence in Misrata, Ismail Shukri, had declared a state of emergency and had instructed all military and security units and brigades to present themselves for duty.

Yet despite all the speculation, it seems that these Misratan forces are focusing their efforts on defending the city and the areas around it rather than planning any large scale attack.

This is unsurprising. While Misrata may wish to push IS out of Sirte, it still does not have the strength to be able to do so.

IS is now well entrenched in Sirte and the surrounding area and, while it may be one of the strongest powers in Libya, Misrata alone will struggle to dislodge it.