A man accused of involvement in the abduction of American journalist Austin Tice has revealed that the deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ordered Tice’s execution, according to security sources speaking to the BBC. Major General Bassam Al Hassan, a former commander within the Republican Guards and a close confidant of Assad, is named as the Chief of Staff of the National Defence Forces (NDF), a paramilitary organization the BBC identified as responsible for detaining Tice post-abduction in 2012.
The information came to light during a BBC Radio 4 podcast investigation on Tice’s disappearance. Tice, who had been freelancing as a journalist, vanished near Damascus just after his 31st birthday. Despite the Assad regime’s persistence in denying knowledge of Tice’s whereabouts, the BBC uncovered evidence suggesting Tice was being held in Damascus.
Al Hassan, who faces sanctions from the UK, EU, Canada, and the US for his alleged human rights abuses, has reportedly met with US law enforcement at least three times in Lebanon, including in the US embassy. During these encounters, he claimed that Assad ordered the execution of Tice after Al Hassan allegedly tried but failed to persuade him otherwise.
Though Al Hassan purportedly also provided potential locations where Tice’s body might be found, FBI and CIA investigators are currently verifying the accuracy of these claims. Western intelligence remains skeptical about Assad directly ordering the execution, given his tendency to maintain plausible deniability in such matters.
In parallel, Debra Tice, Austin’s mother, made an unsuccessful attempt to contact Al Hassan as the 13th anniversary of her son’s disappearance approaches. She suspects that Al Hassan may have fabricated information to satisfy US officials. Despite this, Debra remains hopeful and determined in her efforts to find and bring her son home.
A former member of the NDF also shed light on the situation, affirming that Tice was considered a significant asset for diplomatic leverage with the US. After the downfall of the Assad regime, Al Hassan escaped to Iran, from where he was later invited to meet with US officials in Lebanon with the assurance of no impending detainment.
Historically, US administrations have maintained the stance that Tice, who had previously served as a Marine captain and studied law at Georgetown University, was still alive. Former President Joe Biden, in December 2024, stated his belief in Tice’s survival, yet acknowledged the lack of concrete evidence to support this claim.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg72g960pxo
