In pics: Navigating global conflicts that shook the world in 2023

The October 7 attack, with around 1,400 casualties, gave Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu a political respite. Subsequently, a campaign unfolded in Gaza, resulting in over 20,000 deaths, 40-50% of whom are women and children. Despite increasing pressure for a truce, an end to the war remains elusive. (Reuters photo)

Israel-Hamas conflict in October concerned Ukraine's president Zelenskyy as global attention shifted. US and European support for Ukraine waned, focusing on Gaza's civilian toll. Western countries' patience for Ukraine's cause showed signs of fatigue. (Reuters photo)

As Russia's war against Ukraine reaches its third winter, the outcome remains unclear. Stalled territorial gains prompt debates on a potential stalemate and questions about Ukraine's progress. Amidst this, Ukraine's victory over the Russian Black Sea Fleet in 2023 adds to the ongoing volatility. (AP photo)

Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former hot dog vendor turned rival of Russian President Putin, died in a plane crash on the outskirts of Moscow. Known as the head of the Wagner group, a private military organization involved in brutal actions during Russia-Ukraine war, Prigozhin also led a short-lived uprising against the Kremlin in June. (AP photo)

Rising concerns about China's assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific, especially regarding Taiwan, unite bipartisan support for a hawkish US policy. Both the Biden administration and Congress aim to bolster US deterrence against a potential Chinese invasion while ensuring credible consequences for such actions and offering reassurance about Taiwan's status. (AP photo)

US-South Korea actions aim to deter North Korea's nuclear test, but Pyongyang's response underscores the limited effectiveness of deterrence and potential for increased tensions. (AFP photo)

North Korea amended its constitution to enshrine nuclear weapons, responding to heightened nuclear cooperation with the US, S Korea, and Japan. Kim Jong Un vowed to accelerate nuclear production as a deterrent, following South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's warning to dismantle Kim's regime if North Korea deploys nuclear weapons. (AP photo)

South American security faced a crisis when Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro considered invading Guyana over the disputed Essequibo region. The area's significant oil reserves had spurred development in the economically disadvantaged nation of Guyana. (AFP photo)

Venezuelans, emotionally attached to the disputed Essequibo region, view it as unfairly taken. Maduro's referendum in December, ahead of the 2024 elections, alarms South American neighbors, fearing it could be a pretext for a Guyana invasion. (AFP photo)

In April 2023, Baku opened a checkpoint on the highway to hinder military shipments from Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. Following conflict, diplomatic talks involving the US, EU and Russia urged Azerbaijan to recognize Armenia's boundaries and protect ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. (AFP photo)

Backed by Russia and Turkey, Azerbaijan's control led to a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. About 80% of the population moved to Armenia, prompting the dissolution of all state institutions by January 1, 2024, according to a decree signed by the Nagorno-Karabakh administrator. (AP photo)

Nearly three years after a bloody coup, Myanmar's military junta confronts its most significant challenge to power, engaging in conflicts on multiple fronts across the Southeast Asian nation. (AFP photo)

In recent times, potent armed ethnic militias have joined forces with resistance groups, orchestrating major offensives with unparalleled coordination. This has underscored Burmese junta's shortcomings, resulting in the loss of strategic border towns, key military positions, and vital trade routes on a scale not witnessed in decades. (AFP photo)

The revived rebel group M23, allegedly backed by Rwanda according to the UN, has sparked chaos in eastern DRC. Intense fighting has displaced many, fueling concerns of a broader regional conflict. M23 has taken control of towns around Goma, with its fighters, including ex-Congolese soldiers, professing to champion Tutsi communal interests. (AP photo)