In a shocking turn of events, Major General Bassam Al Hassan, a former commander in the Syrian Republican Guards, asserts that missing American journalist Austin Tice was executed on the orders of Bashar al-Assad. Al Hassan’s claims have sparked renewed efforts by US authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding Tice's disappearance.
Allegations Surface: Ex-Syrian Commander Claims Austin Tice Executed on Assad's Orders
Allegations Surface: Ex-Syrian Commander Claims Austin Tice Executed on Assad's Orders
New claims surrounding the fate of missing journalist Austin Tice emerge, suggesting he was executed under the orders of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
A former Syrian military officer, Major General Bassam Al Hassan, has come forward with alarming allegations regarding the fate of Austin Tice, the missing American journalist who vanished in August 2012. According to sources, Al Hassan claims that ousted President Bashar al-Assad ordered Tice's execution, a revelation that has emerged from a BBC Radio 4 podcast focusing on the journalist's mysterious disappearance.
Tice was last seen near Damascus, just days after celebrating his 31st birthday, while working as a freelance journalist. The Syrian regime has persistently denied knowledge of his capture, yet investigations have revealed that Tice was held within Damascus. Al Hassan, who previously oversaw the facility responsible for Tice's detention and is sanctioned by multiple countries including the US and EU, has indicated to US law enforcement that he initially tried to persuade Assad against killing Tice.
Sources state that Al Hassan recently met with FBI and CIA officials in Lebanon, where he provided further claims and possibly locations for Tice's remains. However, intelligence analysts express skepticism about whether Assad directly issued a kill order, pointing to the president's tendency to create distance from such orders.
Debra Tice, Austin's mother, has tirelessly sought answers regarding her son's fate and has expressed her desire to speak with Al Hassan directly. Despite her efforts, including attempts to contact the US embassy, she has yet to succeed in meeting him. She responded to Al Hassan's claims with skepticism, suggesting that he might have fed investigators a narrative they wanted to hear in order to expedite case closure.
Discussions around Tice's detention indicate he was seen as a significant diplomatic leverage point by the Assad regime. After the regime's collapse, Al Hassan reportedly fled to Iran, eventually leading to his meetings with US officials in Lebanon, which he undertook under the assurance that he would not be detained.
Throughout the years, U.S. leaders have maintained their belief that Tice is alive, with President Biden asserting in late 2024 that they think it is possible to secure his return, despite lacking direct evidence to confirm his safety. The investigation surrounding Tice's disappearance continues, with renewed urgency following these latest disclosures.
