Normally camera - shy Syrian president made surprise visit to arts education center . More than a million refugees have fled the fighting , crossing the border and flooding into overloaded camps in neighboring Turkey and Jordan . Bashar al - Assad met families of those killed in ` ` terrorist attacks '' , state news agency reports . YouTube video of visit shows al - Assad arriving at the center at the wheel of his own car . Official Syrian news agency says president , first lady later spoke to ` ` families of martyrs ''
Normally camera - shy Syrian president made surprise visit to arts education center . Bashar al - Assad met families of those killed in ` ` terrorist attacks '' , state news agency reports . YouTube video of visit shows al - Assad arriving at the center at the wheel of his own car . Official Syrian news agency says president , first lady later spoke to ` ` families of martyrs ''