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AP Explains: What next after the downfall of IS in Sirte?

FILE -- In this Sept. 29, 2016 file photo, fighters of the Libyan forces affiliated to the Tripoli government, look from their vantage point as plumes of smoke rise after an airstrike over an Islamic State militant held area of Sirte, Libya. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2016, the Islamic State group lost the battle for the city of Sirte, its only foothold in Libya, essentially ending the militants’ ambition to expand its self-styled “caliphate” beyond Syria and Iraq. But that victory only opens the door for Libya’s multiple armed factions to potentially turn on each other in a new showdown. It is likely to be over control of oil, the North African nation’s only real source of revenue. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo, File) FILE -- In this Sept. 29, 2016 file photo, fighters of the Libyan forces affiliated to the Tripoli government, look from their vantage point as plumes of smoke rise after an airstrike over an Islamic State militant held area of Sirte, Libya. On Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2016, the Islamic State group lost the battle for the city of Sirte, its only foothold in Libya, essentially ending the militants’ ambition to expand its self-styled “caliphate” beyond Syria and Iraq. But that victory only opens the door for Libya’s multiple armed factions to potentially turn on each other in a new showdown. It is likely to be over control of oil, the North African nation’s only real source of revenue. (AP Photo/Manu Brabo, File)

By Associated Press December 7, 2016 6 min read

BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) – The Islamic State group this week lost the city of Sirte, its only foothold in Libya, essentially ending its ambition to expand its self-styled “caliphate” into the North African nation, at least for now.

But that victory only opens the door for Libya’s multiple armed factions to turn on each other in a new showdown. It could be over control of oil, the North African nation’s only real source of revenue.

A U.N.-brokered peace deal was reached a year ago, trying to establish a unity government to end the chaos that has plagued Libya since the ouster and death of longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi in a 2011 civil war. Instead, the country remains divided roughly between east and west, there is still no effective government and rival factions and militias – each side with backing from foreign countries – threaten a new chapter of violence.

Here are some issues at stake:

THE ISLAMIC STATE GROUP’S FATE