Islamic State Mass Graves

Surrounded by smoke and flames, the sound of gunshots echoing around him, the young man crouched in the creek for hours, listening to the men in his family die.

Lebanon’s Tobacco Industry

Photos by Bilal Hussein Syria’s conflict has caused hundreds of thousands of refugees to flee to Lebanon, putting a huge strain on the Lebanese economy and its already-crumbling infrastructure.

Israel’s Golan Cowboys

Photos by Ariel Schalit With his wide-brimmed hat, Wrangler jeans and ornate belt buckle, Yehiel Alon could easily pass for one of the Montana ranchers he once worked with.

Syria War Souvenirs

Photos by Hassan Ammar They stare at you from mugs, pins and fridge magnets in souvenir shops in Damascus.

A Look at Where Countries Stand in Saudi Arabia-Iran Dispute

Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which began with the kingdom’s execution of a Shiite cleric and escalated with attacks on Saudi diplomatic posts in the Islamic Republic, have countries around the world responding by choosing sides or urging calm.

Mohammed’s Journey: A Syrian’s Long Quest For a Normal Life

Photos by Santi Palacios and Manu Brabo At the edge of a Balkan vineyard, Mohammed al-Haj lay down under a tree to collect his thoughts.

Portraits of Refugees Along Europe Migrant Trail

Photos by Muhammed Muhesien  Shortly after a dinghy overloaded with refugees from Syria and Iraq reached the Greek island of Lesbos, Mahmoud Naoura stood and raised his hands, chanting “Thank you God, we are safe.”

Arriving to Europe

Photos by Petros Giannakouris It’s a small step in a long and uncertain escape from civil war and the Islamic State in Syria and difficult circumstances in other nations — but perhaps one of the most emotional.

Jordan Hospital Heals War Wounds

Photos by Muhammed Muheisen They are among the most tragically wounded from the Middle East’s multiple wars. A 14-year-old Syrian girl whose lower legs were torn off by a shell. A 15-year-old Iraqi boy who was severely burned in a car bomb explosion.

Malala’s Call for Aid

Photos by Muhammed Muheisen Rich countries should spend less on weapons in the Syrian civil war and more on education, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai said Monday, calling world leaders “quite stingy” as she toured a camp for the conflict’s refugees.

Close Up: Photographer Muhammed Muheisen

Muhammed Muheisen, Chief photographer, Pakistan, won the $10,000 Oliver S. Gramling Journalism Award for his work capturing the loss and hope in Pakistan and conflict zones throughout the world.

APTOPIX Roundup: Oct. 17, 2014

Throughout the day, Associated Press photo editors comb through and designate a selection of the most newsworthy and visually breathtaking images as APTOPIX.

Turkey Syria Conflict

Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, and its surrounding areas, has been under assault by the Islamic State group since mid-September and is being defended by Kurdish fighters.

Young Syrian Refugees

Photos by Muhammed Muheisen At Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp near the border with Syria, the horror of the neighboring country’s civil war can be seen in the faces of its youngest refugees.

Palestinians Dream Of Return

Photo Essay By Muhammed Muheisen  A lifetime has passed since hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were forced out their homes in the Mideast war over Israel’s 1948 creation. Today, those who were uprooted and their descendants number more than 5 million people, scattered across the West Bank, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

Syrian Refugee Life

Photos by Khalil Hamra Life in Jordan’s Zaatari camp is getting harder for 130,000 Syrian refugees, most of whom have fled fighting in southern Syria.