Major Events of August 2013: Key Historical Moments from the Month

Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from August 2013 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

Major Events of August 2013: Key Historical Moments from the Month

01 Aug 2013 Edward Snowden Granted Temporary Asylum in Russia: Edward Snowden, the controversial whistleblower for the American National Security Agency, was granted temporary political asylum in Russia for one year. He officially left Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport, marking a significant moment in international diplomatic tensions.
02 Aug 2013 US State Department Global Travel Alert: The United States Department of State issued a worldwide travel alert for U.S. citizens, with several embassies in North Africa and Southwest Asia to be closed due to a credible al-Qaeda threat.
03 Aug 2013 Zimbabwe's Controversial Presidential Election: Robert Mugabe was declared the winner of Zimbabwe's presidential election with a 61% majority, extending his 33-year rule. The election was marred by controversy, with opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai vowing legal challenges and a Zimbabwe Electoral Commission commissioner resigning due to poor election conduct.
04 Aug 2013 US Embassy Closures Due to Terror Threat: The United States implemented an unprecedented security measure by closing 22 diplomatic missions across North Africa and the Middle East in response to credible intelligence about a potential Al-Qaeda terrorist attack.
05 Aug 2013 Devastating Flash Floods in Pakistan and Afghanistan: Catastrophic flash floods swept across Pakistan and Afghanistan, claiming over 160 lives and causing widespread destruction.
06 Aug 2013 Syrian Civil War Escalation: Multiple significant events occurred in Syria: Syrian rebels captured the Menagh Military Airbase near Aleppo's Turkish border. In Damascus, a car bomb killed 18 people and injured 55. Reports also emerged of a potential chemical attack in the Damascus suburbs of Houma and Adra.
07 Aug 2013 Egypt Political Unrest: Morsi Supporter Clashes: Violent confrontations between supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi and his opponents resulted in one fatality and 62 injuries, reflecting the deep political divisions in Egypt.
08 Aug 2013 Suicide Bombing at Funeral in Quetta, Pakistan: A devastating suicide bombing occurred at a funeral in the Pakistani city of Quetta, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 31 lives. The attack was part of the ongoing Balochistan conflict, highlighting the region's persistent instability and violence.
09 Aug 2013 Deadly Attack on Sunni Mosque in Quetta: Gunmen launched a violent assault on a Sunni mosque in Quetta, Pakistan, resulting in at least ten fatalities and 30 injuries. The attack highlights ongoing sectarian tensions in the region.
10 Aug 2013 DiMaggio Kidnapping Case: James Lee DiMaggio was identified as a suspect in the Boulevard murders of Christina and Ethan Anderson in California. He subsequently abducted Hannah Anderson and transported her to Idaho, though she was ultimately not harmed. The FBI was involved in tracking and resolving the case.
11 Aug 2013 Syrian Army Kills Al-Qaeda Commander: Syrian Army reports killing Abu Malik al-Shahri, known as the 'Bin Laden of Syria', in the outskirts of Latakia.
12 Aug 2013 IOC Stance on LGBT Rights at Sochi Olympics: The International Olympic Committee announced it would sanction athletes who support LGBT rights during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, amid growing international tensions over LGBTQ+ rights.
13 Aug 2013 Israel-Palestine Peace Talks Resume: Controversial peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine recommence, marked by tensions surrounding Israeli settlement expansion and the planned release of 26 Palestinians convicted of murdering Israelis. The talks represent a delicate diplomatic effort to address long-standing regional conflicts.
14 Aug 2013 Egypt's Violent Crackdown on Pro-Morsi Protesters: On August 14, 2013, Egyptian security forces launched a brutal crackdown on demonstrations supporting former president Mohamed Morsi, resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties. The military-backed government declared a state of emergency and used overwhelming force to disperse protest camps in Cairo, including armored bulldozers, tear gas, snipers, and helicopters.
15 Aug 2013 Egyptian Coup Aftermath: Violent Clashes and International Response: On August 15, 2013, the aftermath of the Egyptian coup d'état was marked by significant violence and international diplomatic tension. Security forces and protesters engaged in deadly clashes, resulting in 638 deaths. The Muslim Brotherhood stormed and set fire to a Cairo government building, escalating the political unrest. In response to the violence, President Barack Obama canceled joint military exercises between the United States and Egypt.
16 Aug 2013 Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Calls 'Day of Rage': Following a violent crackdown by security forces on supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood called for a nationwide 'day of rage'. The confrontation resulted in at least 638 deaths, leading President Obama to cancel joint US-Egyptian military exercises.
17 Aug 2013 Egyptian Security Forces Clear Mosque, Propose Muslim Brotherhood Dissolution: After a lengthy standoff, Egyptian security forces cleared a Cairo mosque. Prime Minister Hazem Al-Beblawi simultaneously proposed the legal dissolution of the Muslim Brotherhood, signaling escalating tensions in post-Morsi Egypt.
18 Aug 2013 UN Weapons Inspectors in Syria: Twenty UN weapons inspectors arrived in Damascus to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons during the ongoing Syrian Civil War, a critical mission to assess potential war crimes.
19 Aug 2013 Devastating Floods in China: A combination of Typhoon Utor-triggered flooding in southern China and torrential rains in north-east China resulted in a catastrophic natural disaster, causing at least 91 deaths and 111 injuries, demonstrating the severe impact of extreme weather events.
20 Aug 2013 The Guardian Reveals Government Pressure over Snowden Documents: Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, disclosed that British authorities had ordered the newspaper to destroy hard drives containing Edward Snowden's classified material, underscoring the global tensions surrounding whistleblowing and national security.
21 Aug 2013 Chemical Weapons Attack in Damascus Suburbs: A devastating chemical weapons attack was carried out by the Syrian government in the Damascus suburbs, resulting in 1,429 fatalities, including at least 426 children. The attack was extensively documented and confirmed by multiple independent sources, including U.S. intelligence, international and Syrian medical personnel, video evidence, witness testimonies, and social media reports.
22 Aug 2013 Hosni Mubarak Released from Prison: Former Egyptian President Hosni Mohammed is freed from Tora prison and transferred to a military hospital, marking a significant moment in Egypt's political history.
23 Aug 2013 Syrian Civil War Refugee Crisis Escalates: The United Nations reported a critical milestone in the Syrian refugee crisis, with one million refugees displaced. Simultaneously, the Syrian government blocked UN inspectors from investigating the site of a suspected chemical weapons massacre, raising international tensions.
24 Aug 2013 50th Anniversary of 'I Have a Dream' Speech: The United States commemorated the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech. The United States Postal Service introduced a special commemorative stamp to honor this pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
25 Aug 2013 UN Chemical Weapons Inspection in Syria: UN inspectors were granted access to investigate suspected chemical weapons attack sites near Damascus during the ongoing Syrian Civil War, marking a critical moment in understanding potential war crimes.
26 Aug 2013 UN Investigative Team Attacked in Syria: A UN team investigating chemical weapon attacks in Syria was targeted by snipers. Despite the attack, the delegates remained unharmed and continued their mission. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry condemned the incident as a 'shameful offense to humanity'.
27 Aug 2013 Syrian Foreign Minister Denies Chemical Weapon Usage: Walid Muallem, Syria's Foreign Minister, strongly denied allegations of chemical weapon deployment by Syrian forces. Simultaneously, the United States and its allies were preparing for a targeted military strike focused on command, control, and artillery infrastructure.
28 Aug 2013 UN Weapons Inspectors Investigate Chemical Attack in Syria: United Nations weapons inspectors crossed into rebel territory for a second investigation of an alleged poison-gas attack. The U.S. claims to have evidence, reportedly an intercepted phone call between Syrian commanders, proving Syrian forces were responsible for the attack that killed hundreds of civilians. The Obama administration and allies are preparing potential missile strikes.
29 Aug 2013 British Intelligence Implicates Assad in Chemical Attacks: The Joint Intelligence Committee of Britain concludes it is 'highly probable' that Bashar al-Assad's regime was responsible for chemical weapons attacks, potentially justifying international military intervention.
30 Aug 2013 Casualties of Syrian Chemical Attack: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reported that 1,429 people were killed in the chemical weapons attack in Syria, highlighting the humanitarian crisis.
31 Aug 2013 Syrian Civil War: Obama Seeks Congressional Approval for Military Strike: President Barack Obama announced his willingness to authorize a limited military strike against Syria, emphasizing that he would first seek congressional approval. The UN inspection team had just completed their mission and left Damascus, while rising regional tensions prompted several countries to advise their citizens against traveling to Lebanon.