Exclusive on AC360 tonight: Sen. McCain recounts trip to Syria

In his first interview since meeting with opposition leaders inside Syria, Sen. John McCain tells Anderson Cooper why he made the trip and he shares his reaction to seeing the effects of the conflict firsthand. Their conversation airs at 8 and 10 p.m. ET.

An outspoken proponent of U.S. involvement in Syria, McCain has urged President Obama to help end the violence and support rebel leaders by providing weapons. An estimated 80,000 people have been killed since March 2011, according to the U.N.

"When you look at the faces of these people and hear their stories, so many of them have lost family members. So many of them have lost friends," McCain said. "This is a pretty bloody, bloody business that they've been in."

The senator traveled roughly 1 kilometer inside Syria for several hours to talk with commanders with the Free Syrian Army. His experience reaffirmed his stance on aiding the forces fighting Bashar al-Assad.

"These are human beings that are trying to achieve the same thing that we have shed American blood and treasure for, for well over 200 years," he said.

Watch a preview of the interview and tune in tonight. Tweet your views @andersoncooper and @AC360.