Getty Images
Russian "anti-terrorist" troops have arrived in Syria, despite the al-Assad regime’s insistence that outside nations not get involved in the ongoing bloodshed. United Nations security experts say the troops might be there as a show of support for al-Assad. Russia has repeatedly blocked attempts by the U.N. Security Council to take action to stop the violence in Syria. Last week Russian leaders said they did not have plans to send troops to Syria, but the Iman, one of the ships in the Russian Black Sea fleet, has docked at Tartus, a Syrian port on the Mediterranean Sea with marines on board. The Russian government has sold billions of dollars’ worth of military weaponry to Syria and has a close relationship with President Bashar al-Assad. The BBC reported that although Russia's military presence was soon to be felt in the country, Kremlin leaders called for a truce to allow aid groups access to injured civilians.