The collapse of Syria's Assad regime has sparked renewed hope for locating Austin Tice, an American journalist who disappeared in Syria over 12 years ago. Tice, a Marine veteran turned freelance journalist, was kidnapped on August 14, 2012, while reporting on the Syrian civil war.
President Biden expressed cautious optimism about Tice's return following the rebel takeover that ended the Assad family's 50-year rule on Sunday. "We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet," Biden said at the White House. "We have to identify where he is."
The last known sighting of Tice was in a brief video released weeks after his disappearance, showing him blindfolded among apparent captors. While no group has claimed responsibility, the Biden administration has previously stated with "certainty" that the Syrian regime held him.
Tice's parents met with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan just days before the regime's fall. His mother, Debra Tice, later announced at a news conference that "Austin Tice is alive" and "is being cared for and he is well," citing information from a "significant source" vetted by the U.S. government.
Roger Carstens, the government's top hostage negotiator, is currently in Beirut working on Tice's case, offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his location and return.
However, the Tice family has expressed frustration with the U.S. government's efforts. "They're doing everything they can except negotiating to get Austin free," Debra Tice said on "CBS Mornings." The family noted that Tice has missed numerous family milestones, including the births of nieces and nephews and siblings' weddings, during his 12-year absence.
The State Department continues to work with regional parties to gather information about Tice's whereabouts as the situation in Syria evolves following Assad's fall from power.
According to Israeli journalist Sapir Lipkin, 'Syrian Capital Voice' reports that viral footage circulating on social media, allegedly showing kidnapped American journalist Austin Tice, is false. According to their report, the video shows a different person, not Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012.
