Syrian president Bashar Assad arrived in Moscow on October 21 on a working visit, the first trip abroad since the civil war hit the country in 2011. The Kremlin hosted the Russian-Syrian talks in the narrow and extended format with the participation of the representatives of the Russian leadership. At the meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow Bashar Assad extended thanks to the Russian authorities and people for helping to preserve the unity and independence of Syria. Russia’s warplanes have been pounding Islamic State terrorist targets in Syria since September 30. Bashar Assad's visit to Moscow - in this gallery by TASS