The BBC has reported that Syria’s government planned the abduction of US journalist Austin Tice over a period of weeks, and that a source told the broadcaster the operation was personally approved by President Bashar al‑Assad.
According to the BBC's account, the planning spanned several weeks before Tice was seized. The broadcaster's report cites a source who says the detention was authorised at the highest levels of the Syrian state.
The revelations are the latest development in a case that has drawn long‑running international attention. Tice, an American journalist, has been a focal point in discussions about detainees in Syria and the broader humanitarian and diplomatic consequences of the country’s conflict.
The BBC's findings, and the claim of presidential approval, add to scrutiny of how Syrian authorities handled the case. The broadcaster’s report is likely to renew calls for clarity and for further information from those involved, including both Syrian officials and international actors engaged on the issue.