Syria's new government has requested that Washington return al-Hassan to face trial, but U.S. officials want him to remain in Lebanon. Information provided by al-Hassan has proven unreliable, as excavations at a site he claimed was Tice's burial ground yielded no results. The family of Tice, who has been missing since 2012, has condemned the secret arrangement.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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US and Lebanon Shield Syrian General Wanted for War Crimes
Geopolitics12 days ago
The FBI and CIA are funding the living expenses and security of Bassam al-Hassan in Beirut to obtain information on missing American journalist Austin Tice. According to a BBC and NPR investigation, the U.S. and Lebanese agencies provide the former Syrian general with residency and protection through intermediaries, as al-Hassan is currently under U.S. sanctions. He oversaw Syria's chemical weapons program and is accused of crimes against humanity, including responsibility for the 2013 sarin attack on Ghouta that killed hundreds of civilians.
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