A shepherd herds his flock of sheep on the banks of the Euphrates River in Deir al-Zour, Syria. The river divides forces loyal to the new Syrian government and the SDF.
Long neglected by the Syrian state and one of the first cities to rise up in the 2011 revolution, Deir al-Zour endured years of siege, bombardment, and successive occupation by government forces, ISIS, and Kurdish-led fighters. The conflict left around 75% of the city’s infrastructure damaged or destroyed. In 2025, the Euphrates River marked a divide; the government controlled one bank, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) the other, complicating daily movement, trade, and access to services. For those who remained, and those who returned, rebuilding continued regardless.
Behind every powerful image is a story someone chose to tell. And often, a risk someone chose to take. Support World Press Photo by making a donation to ensure these important stories are seen across the globe.
