Bashar Assad, his wife Asmaa Al-Assad attend church in Damascus (Photos)

Syrian President Bashar al Assad and First Lady Asmaa Al-Assad attended Christmas choir preparations at the Notre Dame de Damas Church, an ancient cathedral located close to a front line area in the capital Damascus where his army is engaged in heavy fighting with rebels, state media said on Saturday.

The couple were seen smiling and posing for pictures with the group and also listened to the recital of Christmas poems at the church, which was hit by mortar fire on Friday.

The visit coincided with the adoption of Friday’s UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire and political settlement in Syria, which was unanimously adopted. The resolution refrained from mentioning the Syrian leader.