Sources close to the investigation reveal that Major General Bassam Al Hassan, a former Assad ally, claims he tried to prevent the execution of Tice, who disappeared in 2012 while working in Syria. Al Hassan has provided possible locations for Tice's remains.
Ex-Syrian General Claims US Journalist Austin Tice Executed on Assad's Orders
Ex-Syrian General Claims US Journalist Austin Tice Executed on Assad's Orders
An ex-commander linked to the Syrian regime alleges that the missing journalist Austin Tice was killed following an order from President Assad, intensifying speculation about his fate.
The case of Austin Tice, the American journalist missing since August 2012, has taken a dramatic turn with claims made by Major General Bassam Al Hassan, a former commander in the Syrian Republican Guards. Al Hassan, who was a close associate of ousted President Bashar al-Assad and has been sanctioned by multiple countries, purports that President Assad ordered Tice's execution shortly after his abduction. The claims were revealed through a BBC investigation set to feature in an upcoming Radio 4 podcast.
Tice disappeared near Damascus, shortly after his 31st birthday, while reporting as a freelance journalist. Until now, the Syrian regime has consistently asserted that they were unaware of his situation, an assertion contradicted by the BBC's findings indicating that Tice was detained in the capital. Al Hassan, who oversaw the facility where Tice was incarcerated, reportedly met with US law enforcement on several occasions to discuss the case, including meetings in the US embassy complex.
During these encounters, he claimed that despite his initial attempts to prevent the deadly order, he ultimately communicated it and implied that it was subsequently acted upon. Al Hassan has since provided leads on potential locations for Tice's body, which investigators from the FBI and CIA are currently working to verify.
However, skepticism surrounds Al Hassan's claims, especially regarding whether Assad would have directly issued a kill order, given his history of maintaining plausible deniability in controversial actions.
The emotional ramifications of Tice’s continued disappearance are felt deeply by his family, particularly his mother, Debra Tice, who has tirelessly campaigned for her son's return. Moved by Al Hassan's revelations, she sought a meeting with him to seek answers, yet her efforts have been unsuccessful. Despite the grim findings, she maintains hope, expressing her belief that her son is alive and will be freed one day.
As the 13th anniversary of Tice's mysterious disappearance approaches, the case remains a poignant reminder of the dangers facing journalists in conflict zones and the complexities involved in international diplomacy tied to hostage situations.
