Russia has sent billions of dollars in arms to Syria . Iran is the most populous Shiite Muslim nation ; al - Assad is Alawite , a Shiite sect . China says it still hopes to see a political change in Syria .
Russia has sold billions of dollars in arms to Syria . Iran is the most populous Shiite Muslim nation ; al-Assad is Alawite , a Shiite offshoot . China said it still wants to see a political solution in Syria .