BBC investigation finds Syrian regime planned US journalist Austin Tice's kidnap

A BBC investigation revealed that the 2012 abduction of US journalist Austin Tice in Syria was a calculated operation planned over a month in advance.

A former member of the pro-regime National Defence Forces claimed the abduction was sanctioned directly by then-President Bashar al-Assad.

Secret intelligence files uncovered after the regime's collapse provided internal records confirming the journalist was held by the administration.