Syrian President Bashar Assad made a secret visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, their two governments disclosed Wednesday.
The trip, which took place on Tuesday, was Assad's first known visit abroad since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011.
The unusual meeting was confirmed Wednesday by Damascus and Moscow, who said the leaders discussed their joint military campaign against militants in Syria and stressed the need for a political solution to the conflict.
The United Nations estimates the civil war has killed at least 250,000 people
In a statement posted on the Syrian presidency’s official Facebook page, Damascus said the campaign was focused on eliminating terrorism, which it said was standing in the way of securing a political solution to the conflict.
The post featured a picture of a smiling Assad shaking hands with Putin. It was also posted on the Syrian presidency's Twitter account. Assad is now back in Syria.
The Russian president thanked his counterpart for "accepting our invitation and coming to Moscow despite a tragic situation in your country.”
“The Syrian people have been putting up a fight against international terrorism effectively on (their) own for several years, sustaining sizeable losses but it has achieved positive results recently,” Putin said.
Russia began launching airstrikes against insurgents in Syria on Sept. 30 amid criticism from the United States and its allies who say the intervention is doing little beyond helping to keep Assad in power and fanning the violence.
The U.S. and allies want Assad to step down from power.
Allied warplanes have been targeting Islamic State militants in the region since last September, but recent Russian involvement has complicated that effort.
Washington and Moscow announced Tuesday they reached an agreement to avoid conflict among pilots and drones flying over the battlefields of Syria.
Watch USA TODAY report: Putin & Assad
LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE Editor's note: I believe we are seeing the setup as foretold in Ezekiel. We stand with Israel in what is coming to the Middle East and Jerusalem. 
Steve Martin