Key facts
- Former Syrian general Bassam al-Hassan is wanted for crimes against humanity.
- Hassan is reportedly being paid and protected by US and Lebanese authorities.
- The arrangement is linked to information about the abduction of US journalist Austin Tice in 2012.
- Hassan allegedly claims Tice was executed on orders from former President Assad.
- US authorities are reportedly keeping Hassan in Beirut, despite Syrian government requests for his return for trial.
A BBC News investigation has revealed that Bassam al-Hassan, a former Syrian general accused of crimes against humanity and overseeing the country's chemical weapons program, is allegedly being financially supported and protected by US and Lebanese authorities. Hassan, a senior adviser to former President Bashar al-Assad, is reportedly residing in Lebanon under an arrangement involving the FBI and other US and Lebanese officials.
The arrangement is said to be in exchange for information regarding the 2012 abduction of American journalist Austin Tice. The BBC and NPR investigation reviewed records of a meeting where Hassan was offered residency, protection, and assistance with living expenses in return for intelligence, primarily concerning Tice. Sources confirmed Hassan receives money from US authorities through an intermediary.
Despite Hassan's alleged involvement in Tice's abduction and his role in the Syrian regime, US authorities reportedly wish to keep him in Beirut, a move that has drawn criticism. Phil Elwood, spokesperson for the Tice family, called the situation "offensive" and "nothing less than aiding and abetting the escape of a wanted war criminal."
While the FBI declined to comment, directing inquiries to a past statement about securing Tice's return, officials from Syria's new government have expressed a desire for Hassan to face trial. However, they believe Damascus has little recourse given the US stance.
Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the information provided by Hassan. He reportedly told US investigators that Tice had been executed on Assad's orders, but details of his account have been questioned, and a search of a potential burial site yielded no remains. Some sources familiar with the search suggest US authorities may have halted digging prematurely due to security concerns.
Other Syrian officials connected to Tice's case are also believed to have found refuge abroad with US assistance, including Mohammad Makhlouf and Sakr Rustom. A former senior Lebanese intelligence official confirmed that such payment arrangements between Lebanese and US agencies can occur but had no specific knowledge of those involving the Tice case.