Major General Bassam Al Hassan claims that the ousted Syrian president ordered the execution of missing American journalist Austin Tice, raising new concerns about the circumstances surrounding his abduction and potential fate.
New Claims Emerge Regarding Missing US Journalist Austin Tice's Fate
New Claims Emerge Regarding Missing US Journalist Austin Tice's Fate
A former Syrian commander alleges that Austin Tice, who disappeared in 2012, was executed on the orders of President Bashar al-Assad.
The case of missing American journalist Austin Tice has taken a dramatic turn as Major General Bassam Al Hassan, a former commander closely associated with the Syrian regime, makes alarming claims regarding Tice's fate. According to information obtained by the BBC, Al Hassan alleges that President Bashar al-Assad ordered Tice’s execution, raising the stakes in a case that has haunted Tice's family and U.S. officials since the journalist's disappearance in 2012.
Austin Tice, who vanished shortly after his 31st birthday, was abducted while working as a freelance journalist near Damascus, Syria. Tice's family and U.S. government have tirelessly sought to establish his whereabouts, often hitting dead ends despite consistent assurances from previous U.S. administrations asserting that Tice is alive. Recent investigations have intensified around Al Hassan, a former commander in the Republican Guards and Chief of Staff of Syria's National Defence Forces (NDF), who was implicated in holding Tice captive.
A BBC Radio 4 podcast preview reveals that Al Hassan has indicated that he met with U.S. law enforcement on multiple occasions this year in Lebanon, where he purportedly disclosed information suggesting that Assad directly ordered the execution of Tice. Al Hassan claims he initially attempted to caution Assad against taking such drastic action but ultimately disseminated the order for execution, later offering potential locations for Tice's remains.
Sources familiar with ongoing investigations voiced skepticism over Al Hassan's claims, speculating that Assad likely would not have given a direct order, preferring to operate through indirect channels. Simultaneously, Tice's mother, Debra, expressed a relentless drive to uncover the truth regarding her son's case and reached out to Al Hassan for a personal meeting to seek answers, though her efforts were unsuccessful.
In light of these recent developments, her steadfast belief remains that Tice is alive. She iterated, “I am his mother, I still believe that my son is alive and that he will walk free.” This persistent hope runs contrary to the grim fabric of speculation surrounding Tice’s fate, heightened by various allegations arising from former members of the NDF who recognize Tice’s potential value as a bargaining chip in diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Syria.
Following Assad's ousting, Al Hassan sought refuge in Iran until U.S. officials offered assurances that he would face no immediate consequences for coming forward. As details unravel and investigations continue into Tice’s whereabouts, hope lingers amidst the uncertainty, with several U.S. leaders reiterating their belief in his survival, notably President Joe Biden, who emphasized ongoing endeavors towards securing Tice's safe return.
