Top Assad Aide Alleges Missing U.S. Journalist Austin Tice Was Killed in Detention

As per reports from the New York Times and the BBC, a former high-ranking Syrian general has informed U.S. officials that missing American journalist Austin Tice was executed under the orders of former President Bashar al-Assad, the details, linked to Bassam Hassan, have yet to be confirmed and have raised doubts from Tice’s family.

Hassan, a former senior security adviser, who is alleged to have assisted in coordinating chemical attacks, reportedly made this assertion during discussions with FBI and CIA officials in Lebanon. He claimed that Assad, who was removed from power in December 2024 and subsequently escaped to Moscow, commanded Tice’s execution after his kidnapping in 2012.

Tice, a former U.S. Marine and freelance journalist, vanished at a checkpoint in Damascus at the age of 31 while covering stories for outlets such as The Washington Post and CBS. After a short-lived escape, he was ultimately recaptured and is now being held in a detention center thought to be under the control of Hassan.

Throughout the years, updates regarding Tice’s fate have varied significantly. The Tice family has voiced their disappointment regarding the recent claim made by Hassan, questioning its accuracy following its publication. “We do not believe this story is accurate,” they stated in a communication to the New York Times.

U.S. officials have consistently raised concerns about Hassan’s role in Tice’s detention. In 2014, he faced sanctions from the U.S. Treasury for his role in facilitating arms procurement and is currently sought by authorities in France for his alleged involvement in coordinating sarin gas attacks in 2013. He is regarded as a crucial informant regarding Syria’s chemical weapons initiatives and Iranian activities in the area.

Following the capture of Damascus by rebel forces in late 2024, it is reported that Hassan sought refuge in Iran with help from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard before moving to Lebanon. Since April, he has engaged in several discussions with U.S. officials, although the extent of his cooperation remains uncertain.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced indicating that Tice had indeed been held in Damascus, according to intelligence files. A former figure from the Assad regime, Safwan Bahloul, has acknowledged interrogating Tice, representing the first public acknowledgment by a Syrian official of having direct contact with the missing journalist.

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