Detained by Regime.. American Journalist's Family Confirms He's Alive in Syria

Detained by Regime.. American Journalist's Family Confirms He's Alive in Syria
Rapid Developments in Syria May Mark Turning Point in Tice's Fate, but Could Bring New Complications to Liberation Process
December 7, 2024, 6:22 pm

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Syria's hostage issue regained global attention with armed formations' rapid advance, particularly HTS, and prisoner releases, especially foreign missing persons cases among various conflicting parties.

American journalist Austin Tice's mother discussed information confirming her son's survival after 12+ years missing in Syria. Deborah Tice revealed during National Press Club interview Friday, before White House meeting, that "family has important source verified by all US government agencies that Austin Tice is alive."

She expressed deep disappointment with Biden administration, which told them during meeting to await Syria's rapid developments before taking additional steps for Tice's release. Family said source indicated "her son receives care and is well." Marc Tice, hostage's father, reported Thursday's State Department meeting yielded no tangible results.

He indicated meeting limited to exchanging blame and accusations about obstacles and responsibilities, without reaching practical solutions. Jacob Tice, Austin's brother, said he urged National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to commit to direct communication channels with Syrian regime president for Austin's release, but Sullivan declined such promise.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told media "National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met with Tice family," adding Sullivan regularly meets with families of illegally detained Americans, confirming continued follow-up on their return per CNN.

Source familiar with Biden administration information denied any assessment changes regarding Austin Tice's situation, indicating no new data. Bill McCarren, National Press Club's Press Freedom Center director, accused Biden administration of "lying" about hostage information.

Notably, Tice previously served in US Marine Corps, working as freelance journalist when kidnapped in 2012 while covering uprising against Syrian regime president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, aged 31 then.

US State Department confirmed last August, marking 12 years since kidnapping: "We know Syrian government detained Austin, repeatedly offered ways to bring him home."

While Syrian regime never acknowledged Tice's detention or provided survival evidence, armed factions' recent advance and prison liberations in Aleppo and Hama revived hopes of finding American journalist.

Despite absent US-Damascus diplomatic relations, US government sought Syrian regime official contact recent years regarding Tice, including State Department hostage affairs senior official Roger Carstens' Damascus visit without results.

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