Syria’s Assad ordered death of journalist, ex-commander says

A former commander has claimed that the former Syrian leader, Bashar al-Assad ordered the death of Austin Tice, who is a missing US journalist, the BBC reported on June 15th.

The ex-commander of Syria, Major General Bassam Al Hassan, had close ties to Assad. Al Hassan had also been the Chief of Staff for the National Defence Forces (NDF). The NDF was found to be behind Tice’s captivity, following his 2012 abduction.

Only days after Tice turned 31, the US journalist disappeared near Damascus during August 2012. Tice was working as a freelancer and had been exiting the country when he was kidnapped.

BBC