Assad allegedly ordered death of US journalist Austin Tice

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

Major General Bassam Al Hassan, once a trusted figure in Assad’s inner circle, made this statement during meetings with US officials in Lebanon.

Al Hassan had served as Chief of Staff of the National Defence Forces, the paramilitary group linked to Tice’s captivity after his 2012 kidnapping near Damascus. A BBC investigation revealed that Tice had been held in the Syrian capital despite the regime denying this.

Austin Tice, a freelance journalist and former US Marine, disappeared in August 2012 while leaving Syria. Sources say Al Hassan provided potential burial sites and claimed he tried to stop the execution order.

Efforts to verify these claims continue. Western intelligence officials remain doubtful that Assad directly gave an order order, as he is known to avoid direct links to such actions.

According to the The New Arab and agencies on April 26th and as cited by Maghrebi, Syria had vowed to create a liaison office. The idea behind the office is that it would investigate the disappearance of American journalist Austin Tice. The country also outlined efforts to eliminate chemical weapons through cooperation with an international arms watchdog.

Additionally, the BBC reported on June 2nd that secret Syrian intelligence files have confirmed for the first time that missing US journalist Austin Tice was jailed by the regime of the now-overthrown President Bashar al-Assad. Ex-Syrian officials also confirmed Tice’s detention to the BBC.

BBC, The New Arab and agencies, Maghrebi.org