Bassam al-Hassan, a former Syrian general wanted for crimes against humanity, is reportedly being protected and funded by US and Lebanese authorities, according to a BBC News investigation. Al-Hassan, who oversaw Syria's chemical weapons program and served as a senior adviser to former President Bashar al-Assad, has been residing in Lebanon since the collapse of the Assad regime in 2024.
The investigation, conducted by the BBC in collaboration with NPR, indicates that al-Hassan's presence in Lebanon is facilitated by an arrangement involving the FBI and other US and Lebanese officials. This arrangement stems from his willingness to provide information regarding the abduction of American journalist Austin Tice in Syria in 2012, as well as additional intelligence.
Last month, the BBC reported that Tice's abduction was a planned operation, with al-Hassan being part of the command chain. Officials from Syria's new government have expressed a desire for al-Hassan to be returned for trial, but US authorities prefer he remain in Lebanon, leaving the Syrian government with limited options.
The FBI, CIA, and Lebanon's General Directorate of General Security were approached for comments on the findings, but only the FBI responded, declining to provide details and referring to a previous statement focused on establishing facts around Tice's case and securing his return.
Phil Elwood, a spokesperson for the Tice family, expressed concern over US tax dollars being used to support someone associated with chemical weapons use against civilians and who claims to have had Tice executed. He called for justice for the Syrians and for al-Hassan to face trial.
The BBC's investigation also reviewed a record of a meeting involving al-Hassan, FBI and CIA representatives, and Lebanese security officials, where al-Hassan was reportedly offered residency, protection, and assistance with living expenses in exchange for information primarily about Tice.
Sources familiar with the arrangement confirmed that al-Hassan receives funds from US authorities through intermediaries, complicating traceability. Although he is sanctioned by the US government, there are concerns that the arrangement may continue indefinitely without significant progress in the Tice investigation.
Other Syrian regime officials connected to Tice's case have also reportedly received financial assistance from US authorities. One former regime member indicated that he had received payments from the FBI in exchange for cooperation on Tice's case, suggesting a strategy to prolong the arrangement for continued payments.
A former senior Lebanese intelligence official acknowledged that arrangements exist between Lebanese intelligence and US authorities, but he had no knowledge of payments related to Tice's case.
Austin Tice has been missing since 2012, and al-Hassan is believed to have been involved in his disappearance. Following the Assad regime's fall in December 2024, al-Hassan initially fled to Iran before negotiations involving the US, Lebanon, and Iran facilitated his relocation to Lebanon.
Al-Hassan is considered valuable not only for his knowledge about Tice but also for insights into Syria's chemical weapons program and military ties with Iran. He reportedly informed US investigators last year that Tice had been executed on Assad's orders, although the credibility of his account has been questioned, particularly regarding the location of Tice's remains.
Concerns have been raised about the thoroughness of the search for Tice's remains, as US authorities reportedly halted the search due to security issues. Al-Hassan directed the BBC to seek permission from the FBI and CIA for an interview.
The investigation also uncovered that other Syrian officials connected to Tice's case have found refuge abroad, including Mohammad Makhlouf, who reported to al-Hassan and is believed to reside in Lebanon, and Sakr Rustom, al-Hassan's nephew involved in Tice's abduction, who is reportedly moving between the UAE and Lebanon. Ghassan Nassour, a former general in Syria's Republican Guard, is believed to be living in the UAE with his family.