(VOVworld) – Military operations against ISIS in Sirte, Libya, officially concluded Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA), which is backed by the United Nations.  The government announced last week that ISIS was completely defeated after 7 months of fierce combat. However, the city is not safe enough for civilians to return home as scattered bombs and mines remain, which it will take weeks to clean. 

Military operations against ISIS in Sirte, Libya, officially concluded (Source: AFP/VNA)

Libya has been in troubled time following the death of leader Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. In such an unstable situation, ISIS advanced to occupy Sirte city in June, 2015 and then, built a camp to train Libyan jihadists and foreign fighters. A military operation against ISIS has been ongoing by the GNA since May, 2015. 700 soldiers have been killed, 3000 others injured, and at least 2500 IS gunmen have been killed.