Assan is a Arab arms dealer operating in an area of the middle east known as the Glass Road. It is unknown whether he is still alive or not. He was last observed as being part of an arms deal involving “stolen” Arasaka weapons. The deal was raided during a joint operation between the U.S. Army and the Mossad. The deal was broken up but a dirty bomb was detonated that resulted in many casualties. Both Zen and Saito were both involved in this operation, but would not actually meet until they ended up in Colombia together.