New information regarding the fate of the missing American journalist in Syria, Austin Tice.

The British magazine "The Economist" revealed in a report new information regarding the fate of the American journalist missing in Syria, Austin Tice, who disappeared on August 13, 2012 at a checkpoint belonging to the regime forces near the capital Damascus. The report stated that Tice was detained by the ousted regime, with direct knowledge from Bashar al-Assad. The magazine quoted former officer in the ousted regime's security apparatus, Suheil Hassan, stating that Tice was not held by opposition factions, but was detained in a compound housing Assad's close aides near the presidential palace, a place not part of official prisons and directly controlled by Assad loyalists. Hassan added that the arrest operation began after Bassam Hassan, founder of the "National Defense" militia and close advisor to Assad, learned of Tice's presence in Damascus and prepared a plan to capture him while the journalist was preparing to cross into Lebanon after covering opposition areas. Hassan clarified that the intermediary Tice used to cross the border was working for Bassam Hassan. According to "The Economist," Tice was held in a garage within a compound belonging to Hassan, and Assad was aware of this and expressed satisfaction with his detention. Hassan mentioned that he interrogated Tice, who had a satellite communication device and two phones, one of which was an iPhone. Hassan pointed out that Tice managed to escape from his cell for 24 hours, a story that aligns with previous reports by Reuters. Despite suspicions of Hassan's involvement in assisting Tice's escape, he denies these allegations and was later acquitted, according to the magazine.