This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images from around the world made or published by The Associated Press in August.
This gallery was curated by U.S. Photo Assignment Manager Kii Sato in Chicago and global photo desk editor Shuji Kajiyama in Tokyo.
Click to Gallery
Freelance journalist Mariam Dagga, 33, who had been working with the Associated Press and other outlets during the Gaza war, poses for a portrait in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on June 14, 2024. Dagga was one of several journalists killed along with other people in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Islam Qudeih shows her severely malnourished shirtless, 2-year-old daughter, Shamm, to journalists at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 9, 2025. Doctors said Shamm may have a genetic disorder that affects muscle and bone development, but there is no way to test for it in Gaza. On Tuesday, August 12, her family was granted permission to travel to a hospital in Italy. (AP Photo/Mariam Dagga)
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki walks on to the field for his jersey retirement ceremony in Seattle, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Brazil's team competes with hoops and balls during the group all-around final at the 41st FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Robots compete at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Norway's Casper Ruud, right, plays a shot as partner, Poland's Iga Swiatek, covers during their mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ayami Sato pitches during tryouts for the Women's Professional Baseball League at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Washington, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A demonstrator throws a rock at police during a protest against lavish allowances given to parliament members in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Texas state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, right, looks at a protester dressed as death outside of the House Chamber where Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier refuses agree to an around-the-clock police escort in Austin, Texas, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Burns cover the face of Artem aka "Lisnyk," a Ukrainian soldier from the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion who was injured during fighting with Russian forces on the Pokrovsk front, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A model is reflected in a mirror applying makeup during the Mr. and Mrs. Kibera leadership contest held on International Youth Day in Nairobi, Kenya, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
People gather near the site of an airplane belonging to the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) that crashed into a residential building in the Mwihoko area of Ruiru, Kenya, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)
Visitors line up to offer prayers at the Yasukuni Shrine on the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II in Tokyo, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Russia's President Vladimir Puti at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
U.S. President Donald Trump is seen in the window of Marine One at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Police escort two arrested suspects in the detonation of a car bomb at an Air Force base to police headquarters in Cali, Colombia, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Police Maj. Adriana Pinzon kisses the coffin of her husband, Capt. Francisco Merchan, a police pilot killed when his helicopter was shot down by a dissident faction of the former FARC guerrilla group, as his father, Bernardo Merchan, and other relatives attend his burial in Mongua, Colombia, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
A woman pauses as she leaves the Annunciation Church's school as police respond to a reported mass shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (80) tries to make a catch while being hit by Green Bay Packers cornerback Tyron Herring (46) during a preseason NFL football game in Indianapolis, Indiana, Aug. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Gracie Hyde stumbles as she competes in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase finals during the U.S. Championships athletics meet in Eugene, Oregon, Aug. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A family swims in Royal Spring, in Suwanne County, Florida, July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Residents run across a bridge over the flooded Beas River following incessant rains in Kullu, India, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Aqil Khan)
Local farmer Turkan Ozkan, 64, cries next to one of her animals killed during a fire in Guzelyeli, on the outskirts of Canakkale, northwest Turkey, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Olsjen Mucobega, 32, from Albania who lives in Greece, uses his motorcycle to evacuate a sheep from a wildfire in Patras, Greece, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents and volunteers work together to put out an encroaching wildfire in Larouco, northwestern Spain, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Lalo R. Villar)
Firefighters battle the Pickett Fire in the Aetna Springs area of Napa County, California, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A giant dust storm approaches the metro area of Phoenix, Arizona, as a monsoon storm pushes the dust into the air, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Don’t just read the news, view it with AP Photos.
Freelance journalist Mariam Dagga, 33, who had been working with the Associated Press and other outlets during the Gaza war, poses for a portrait in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, on June 14, 2024. Dagga was one of several journalists killed along with other people in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis on Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Islam Qudeih shows her severely malnourished shirtless, 2-year-old daughter, Shamm, to journalists at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 9, 2025. Doctors said Shamm may have a genetic disorder that affects muscle and bone development, but there is no way to test for it in Gaza. On Tuesday, August 12, her family was granted permission to travel to a hospital in Italy. (AP Photo/Mariam Dagga)
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Palestinians rush to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Former Seattle Mariners right fielder Ichiro Suzuki walks on to the field for his jersey retirement ceremony in Seattle, Aug. 9, 2025, before a baseball game between the Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Brazil's team competes with hoops and balls during the group all-around final at the 41st FIG Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Robots compete at the Free Combat event of the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Norway's Casper Ruud, right, plays a shot as partner, Poland's Iga Swiatek, covers during their mixed doubles match at the U.S. Open tennis championships in New York, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Ayami Sato pitches during tryouts for the Women's Professional Baseball League at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Washington, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
A demonstrator throws a rock at police during a protest against lavish allowances given to parliament members in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
Texas state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, right, looks at a protester dressed as death outside of the House Chamber where Democratic Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier refuses agree to an around-the-clock police escort in Austin, Texas, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Burns cover the face of Artem aka "Lisnyk," a Ukrainian soldier from the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion who was injured during fighting with Russian forces on the Pokrovsk front, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)
A model is reflected in a mirror applying makeup during the Mr. and Mrs. Kibera leadership contest held on International Youth Day in Nairobi, Kenya, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
People gather near the site of an airplane belonging to the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) that crashed into a residential building in the Mwihoko area of Ruiru, Kenya, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)
Visitors line up to offer prayers at the Yasukuni Shrine on the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II in Tokyo, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Aug. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Russia's President Vladimir Puti at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
U.S. President Donald Trump is seen in the window of Marine One at Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Aug. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Police escort two arrested suspects in the detonation of a car bomb at an Air Force base to police headquarters in Cali, Colombia, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)
Police Maj. Adriana Pinzon kisses the coffin of her husband, Capt. Francisco Merchan, a police pilot killed when his helicopter was shot down by a dissident faction of the former FARC guerrilla group, as his father, Bernardo Merchan, and other relatives attend his burial in Mongua, Colombia, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
A woman pauses as she leaves the Annunciation Church's school as police respond to a reported mass shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Aug. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Indianapolis Colts tight end Jelani Woods (80) tries to make a catch while being hit by Green Bay Packers cornerback Tyron Herring (46) during a preseason NFL football game in Indianapolis, Indiana, Aug. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Gracie Hyde stumbles as she competes in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase finals during the U.S. Championships athletics meet in Eugene, Oregon, Aug. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
A family swims in Royal Spring, in Suwanne County, Florida, July 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
Residents run across a bridge over the flooded Beas River following incessant rains in Kullu, India, Aug. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Aqil Khan)
Local farmer Turkan Ozkan, 64, cries next to one of her animals killed during a fire in Guzelyeli, on the outskirts of Canakkale, northwest Turkey, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Olsjen Mucobega, 32, from Albania who lives in Greece, uses his motorcycle to evacuate a sheep from a wildfire in Patras, Greece, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
Local residents and volunteers work together to put out an encroaching wildfire in Larouco, northwestern Spain, Aug. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Lalo R. Villar)
Firefighters battle the Pickett Fire in the Aetna Springs area of Napa County, California, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
A giant dust storm approaches the metro area of Phoenix, Arizona, as a monsoon storm pushes the dust into the air, Aug. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
DEIR HAFER, Syria (AP) — Syrian government forces entered two northern towns Saturday morning after the command of Kurdish-led fighters said it would evacuate the area in an apparent move to avoid conflict.
Two soldiers were killed and others wounded in the latest clash, state media reported. The town of Deir Hafer changed hands after deadly fighting erupted earlier this month between government troops and the U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the city of Aleppo, Syria’s largest. It ended with the evacuation of Kurdish fighters from three neighborhoods taken over by government forces.
An Associated Press reporter on Saturday saw government tanks, armored personnel carriers and other vehicles, including pickup trucks with heavy machine guns mounted on top, entering Deir Hafer after bulldozers removed barriers. There was no SDF presence on the edge of the town.
The Syrian military said its forces were in full control of Deir Hafer, captured the Jarrah air base to the east, and were in the process of clearing mines and explosives. It added that troops would move toward the nearby town of Maskana, where an AP reporter saw a military convoy rolling in hours later.
The SDF said in a statement that according to an agreement, Syrian forces were supposed to enter Deir Hafer and Maskana after the Kurdish-led force ended their withdrawal. “Damascus violated the terms of the agreement and entered the towns before our fighters had fully withdrawn, creating a highly dangerous situation with potentially serious repercussions,” the SDF said.
State news agency SANA reported that SDF fighters “violated the agreement" by targeting an army patrol near Maskana, leaving two soldiers dead and others wounded. SANA added that government forces kept moving east, reaching two villages in the northern province of Raqqa.
Over the past two days, more than 11,000 people fled Deir Hafer and Maskana using side roads to reach government-controlled areas, after the government announced an offensive to take the towns.
On Friday night, after government forces started pounding SDF positions in Deir Hafer, the Kurdish-led fighters’ top commander Mazloum Abdi posted on X that his group would withdraw from contested areas in northern Syria. Abdi said SDF fighters would relocate east of the Euphrates River starting 7 a.m. (0400 gmt) Saturday.
The easing of tension came after U.S. military officials visited Deir Hafer on Friday and held talks with SDF officials in the area. The United States has good relations with both sides and has urged calm.
Abdi was scheduled to hold talks with U.S. special special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil on Saturday.
The SDF’s decision to withdraw from Deir Hafer was made after Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued a decree Friday boosting the rights of the country’s Kurds, who made up about 10% of Syria’s population of 23 million before the conflict began in 2011. Over the past decades, Syria’s Kurds had been marginalized and deprived of their cultural rights under the rule of the Baath Party that ran Syria for six decades until Bashar Assad’s fall in December 2024.
Al-Sharaa’s decree recognized Kurdish as a national language, along with Arabic, and adopted the Newroz festival, a traditional celebration of spring and renewal marked by Kurds around the region, as an official holiday.
The Kurdish-led authority in northeast Syria said Saturday that the rights of Kurds should not be protected by “temporary decrees” but by mentioning them in the country's constitution. It added that a decree “does not form a real guarantee for rights of Syria's ethnic groups.”
A convoy of Syrian government forces drive on a road leading to the town of Deir Hafer, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Syrian government soldiers carry machine guns as they ride motorcycles on a road leading to the town of Deir Hafer, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Syrian government soldiers drive a vehicle with heavy machine gun mounted on top on a road leading to the town of Deir Hafer, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
A convoy of Syrian government forces drives on a road leading to the town of Deir Hafer, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)
Syrian government soldiers carry machine guns as they ride motorcycles on a road leading to the town of Deir Hafer, Syria, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed)