--- title: "US and Lebanese Authorities Protect Syrian General Wanted for Crimes Against Humanity" url: https://noti.group/us-and-lebanese-authorities-protect-syrian-general-wanted-for-crimes/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "World News" published: 2026-10-08T05:00:44.000Z updated: 2026-10-08T07:43:20.251Z id: a24e319b-9871-4a3a-a9ba-c65147f9fb46 source: "BBC News World https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c81dldewl5gwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/us-and-lebanese-authorities-protect-syrian-general-wanted-for-crimes/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # US and Lebanese Authorities Protect Syrian General Wanted for Crimes Against Humanity A BBC News investigation has uncovered that Bassam al-Hassan is being shielded by authorities due to his potential value as a source of information about the abduction of American journalist Austin Tice in Syria in 2012. A high-ranking Syrian general wanted for crimes against humanity is being protected by US and Lebanese authorities, a BBC News investigation has uncovered. Bassam al-Hassan was in charge of Syria's chemical weapons programme and served as an adviser to former President Bashar al-Assad before the regime's collapse in 2024. He has since been allowed to remain in Lebanon under a special arrangement involving multiple government agencies. The US broadcaster NPR collaborated with the BBC on this investigation, which revealed that Hassan is being shielded by authorities due to his potential value as a source of information about the abduction of American journalist Austin Tice in Syria in 2012. We have been told that he possesses additional intelligence of interest to US officials. Tice's kidnapping was previously found to be a premeditated operation, with Hassan implicated in its planning and execution. This new information underscores the complexity of the situation surrounding his case and the reasons why Hassan remains at large. Syrian government officials from two different branches have expressed their desire to see Hassan returned to face trial for his alleged crimes, but US authorities appear to be opposed to this plan, citing their need to secure Hassan's cooperation in the Tice investigation. The investigation into Austin Tice's disappearance has led to a complex web of relationships between international authorities and the wanted Syrian general, Hassan. According to sources familiar with the arrangement, Hassan has been offered "residency" and "protection in exchange for providing information on Tice. A detailed record of a meeting between Hassan, FBI and CIA representatives, and Lebanese security officials reveals that Tice's case was discussed at length. During this meeting, Hassan was promised assistance in securing his living needs" in return for the information he provided. The US authorities' motivations for offering such benefits to Hassan are unclear, but it appears that they are willing to go to great lengths to secure his cooperation. Sources describe how Hassan receives money from the US through an intermediary, making it difficult to track the funds. Hassan's inclusion on the US sanctions list has not deterred the authorities from pursuing a relationship with him, and it is evident that he is receiving significant support in exchange for his assistance. The arrangement raises questions about the lengths to which international authorities will go to achieve their goals. The deal struck between Hassan and the US is believed to have been made in the spring of 2025, yet some connected to the Tice investigation question whether it has significantly advanced since then. Sources close to the case express concerns that Hassan's arrangement could continue indefinitely at a considerable cost with limited benefits. The arrangement raises questions about the lengths to which international authorities will go to achieve their goals. Not only Hassan is receiving financial assistance for his co-operation; other Syrian regime officials connected to Tice have reportedly received similar treatment. One former member of the regime revealed he had been paid by the FBI on multiple occasions in exchange for sharing information related to Tice's case. He stated that it was not in his interest to reveal all the information at once, which would allow him to prolong the co-operation and continue receiving payments from US authorities. Another individual connected to the Tice case claimed he was living in Lebanon under the patronage of the US, citing this as a reason for being unable to discuss the matter further. A former senior Lebanese intelligence official confirmed that his agency has arrangements with the Americans, which include making payments when both agencies have overlapping cases. However, he denied any knowledge of payments related to the Tice case. Following his escape from Syria in December 2024, Hassan is believed to have initially found refuge in Iran. A Syrian businessman with ties to both the former regime and Lebanese authorities claims that negotiations took place between the US, Lebanon, and Iran to bring Hassan to Lebanon. These talks allegedly involved all three parties working together to facilitate Hassan's return. Hassan's value lies not only in his supposed knowledge of the Tice case but also in his understanding of Syria's chemical weapons program and its military ties with Iran - information that US intelligence is said to be interested in acquiring. According to multiple sources familiar with the investigation, when Hassan provided a potential location for Tice's remains, nothing was found during the search. This lack of evidence has raised questions about the validity of some of Hassan's account details. Two individuals who claim to have intimate knowledge of the operation suggest that US authorities may have stopped digging before completing the search due to security concerns, potentially compromising the thoroughness of the investigation. The US and Lebanon are working together to protect several high-ranking Syrian officials wanted for their alleged involvement in the detention of a US citizen journalist, our investigation has found. These individuals include Mohammad Makhlouf, who served under Hassan al-Shallali, the Syrian general at the center of the case. Makhlouf is believed to be residing in Lebanon, where he may have been granted asylum or protection from local authorities. Another key figure connected to Tice's detention is Sakr Rustom, Hassan's nephew and a former member of Syria's intelligence services. Rustom has been spotted moving between the UAE and Lebanon, suggesting that he too may have found refuge abroad. When approached by our team about his involvement in Tice's abduction, Rustom declined to comment. Ghassan Nassour, a former general in Syria's Republican Guard, is also wanted for his alleged role in overseeing the detention facility where Tice was held. According to sources within the National Defence Forces, Nassour has been living in the UAE with his family since fleeing Syria. --- Source: [BBC News World](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c81dldewl5gwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/us-and-lebanese-authorities-protect-syrian-general-wanted-for-crimes/