Syria's President Assad Meets with Putin in Moscow

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad traveled to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing military operations in his war torn country.

The visit marks the first known trip Assad has taken abroad since civil war broke out there four years ago.

According to a statement on the Syrian president's official Facebook page, the pair discussed operations against terrorism in the nation, stressing the importance of finding a political resolution.

Putin said his country believes "a long-term settlement can only be achieved as part of a political process, with the participation of all political forces, ethnic and religious groups."

"The Syrian people have been putting up a fight against international terrorism effectively on its own for several years, sustaining sizeable losses, but it has achieved positive results recently," he said.

Putin said he had invited Assad, thanking him for "coming to Moscow despite a tragic situation in your country."

The United States and other critics say Putin's actions in Syria is helping to prop up Assad's regime, even though Russia insists it is only targeting ISIS in the country.

Assad says Russia's intervention was in line with international law.