WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden mentioned that the United States government has reason to believe that Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing 12 years ago near the Syrian capital, is still alive. He added that the U.S. is dedicated to ensuring Tice’s safe return, especially following Bashar Assad’s removal from power in Damascus.
During a briefing at the White House, Biden expressed optimism, stating, “We believe it is possible to bring him back,” while also acknowledging the absence of concrete evidence regarding Tice’s current condition. Biden emphasized the need for accountability, mentioning, “Assad should be held responsible.”
The President highlighted that efforts are ongoing to determine Tice’s exact whereabouts ever since he went missing in August 2012 at a checkpoint located in a disputed area to the west of Damascus.
“We’ve remained committed to returning him to his family,” he said.
Tice, who is from Houston, has had his work published by The Washington Post, McClatchy newspapers and other outlets.
A video released weeks after Tice went missing showed him blindfolded and held by armed men and saying, “Oh, Jesus.” He has not been heard from since. Syria has publicly denied that it was holding him.
The United States has no new evidence that Tice is alive, but continues to operate under that assumption, according to a U.S. official. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. will continue to work to identify where he is and to try to bring him home.
His mother, Debra, said at a news conference Friday in Washington that the family had information from a “significant source,” whom she did not identify, establishing that her son was alive.
“He is being cared for and he is well — we do know that,” she said.
The Tice family met this past week with officials at the State Department and the White House.
“To everyone in Syria that hears this, please remind people that we’re waiting for Austin,” Debra Tice said in comments that hostage advocacy groups spread on social media Sunday. “We know that when he comes out, he’s going to be fairly dazed & he’s going to need lots of care & direction. Direct him to his family please!”
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