Why is Washington sheltering ex-Syrian general
An investigation by BBC and NPR has revealed that U.S. and Lebanese authorities are providing protection and funding to a former Syrian officer with the rank of brigadier general, who is wanted by the International Court on charges of crimes against humanity. His name is Bassam Al-Hassan. He oversaw the Syrian chemical weapons program and served as an advisor to Bashar Al-Assad. Since the collapse of the regime in 2024, he has been residing in Lebanon under an arrangement that allows him to stay in exchange for providing information, most notably about the kidnapping of American journalist Austin Tice in 2012, which is believed to have led to his execution on Assad’s orders. The investigation indicated that Al-Hassan receives funding from U.S. authorities through an intermediary, and concerns remain about the continuation of this unofficial arrangement, as some Syrian and Lebanese officials are hesitant to prosecute or extradite him. The report also uncovered that other individuals connected to the Tice case are living abroad and benefiting from U.S. support. Additionally, Al-Hassan was part of an intelligence network that included Iran and Lebanon, and there is ongoing communication between U.S., Syrian, and Iranian authorities aimed at strengthening the protection of these wanted persons.
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