International
US and Lebanon Shielding Wanted Syrian General Bassam al-Hassan
BBC2h
THE BRIEF
1
A joint investigation by the BBC and NPR revealed that former Syrian general Bassam al-Hassan is being protected and funded by US and Lebanese authorities in Lebanon.
2
Hassan, who oversaw chemical weapons and advised Bashar al-Assad, received residency and living financial support in return for intelligence on the 2012 abduction of US journalist Austin Tice.
3
Syrian government officials stated they want Hassan returned to face trial for crimes against humanity, while the Tice family criticized the arrangement as aiding a war criminal.