CAIRO (AP) — Maya Alleruzzo, a photographer who has covered wars in Iraq and Afghanistan during a 12-year stint in the region, has been named regional photo editor for the Middle East by The Associated Press.

The appointment was announced on Tuesday by Ian Phillips, AP’s Middle East news director. Alleruzzo succeeds Manoocher Deghati and will oversee a team of more than 30 staff photographers and editors, as well as a network of freelancers. Her region also includes parts of North Africa as well as Afghanistan and Pakistan.