Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke Tuesday at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Mikhail Klimentyev/AP hide caption
Bashar Assad Bashar Assad
Free Syrian Army fighters run behind sandbags in Daraa Al-Mahata, in southern Syria, on Jan. 21. Many moderate rebels joined the uprising to fight against President Bashar Assad, but the U.S. plans to train them to fight the self-proclaimed Islamic State. Wsam Almokdad/Reuters/Landov hide caption
Syrian President Bashar Assad, shown here in July, appeared to be in a tough position at the beginning of the year. But many analysts say his hold on power grew stronger over the course of 2014, due in part to the U.S. bombing campaign against the Islamic State. SANA/AP hide caption
One of the three stamps issued recently to commemorate Syrian leader Bashar Assad's presidential election victory. Via Syrian Arab News Agency hide caption
Syrian President Bashar Assad reviews the honor guard upon his arrival at the presidential palace in Damascus to take the oath of office for his third seven-year term. SANA/AP hide caption
In a photo released on the Syrian Presidency's Facebook page, Syrian President Bashar Assad casts his vote on Tuesday with his wife, Asma, at his side. AP hide caption
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem (left) at the peace talks in Montreux, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Gary Cameron /Reuters/Landov hide caption
In the Syrian town of Hejeira, a fighter from a Shiite militia patrolled last week. Jaber al-Helo/AP hide caption
In the northern Syrian city of Aleppo last month, there was a class about how to protect against chemical weapons attacks. J.M. Lopez/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
A convoy of U.N. vehicles with chemical weapons experts on board head out on Friday to do more work as the investigate allegations of chemical weapons use in near Damascus. Louai Beshara /AFP/Getty Images hide caption
A Free Syrian Army fighter looks through the scope of his sniper rifle at an area controlled by forces loyal to President Bashar Assad in Aleppo. Reuters/Landov hide caption
In Washington, D.C., this week, there have been demonstrations both in favor of and against a military strike on targets in Syria. Outside the White House on Monday, supporters of Syrian President Bashar Assad waved a Syrian flag with his face on it. Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a news conference Monday in London. Susan Walsh/AFP/Getty Images hide caption
Vice President Joe Biden stands in front of his residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, as President Obama arrives at a dinner Biden is hosting for Republican senators. Charles Dharapak/AP hide caption
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., met with President Obama on Sunday at the White House. Jewel Samad /AFP/Getty Images hide caption