Syrian president Assad makes rare public appearance on NYE

In this Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014 photo released by the Syrian official news agency SANA, Syrian President Bashar Assad, center, speaks with Syrian troops during his visit on the front line in the eastern Damascus district of Jobar, Syria.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited troops near Damascus on New Year’s Eve in a rare public appearance for the leader. Syrian state-run news agency