The fall of the Assad regime in Syria renewed hope that American freelance journalist Austin Tice, captured more than 12 years ago, could soon come home. U.S. officials said they’re working to get as much information as possible about the 43-year-old.
Tice was abducted in August 2012 near Damascus, a year after the start of the Syrian Civil War. It led to efforts by the U.S. government and groups like Reporters Without Borders to help with the search.
The White House recently sent its special envoy for hostages to Lebanon to lead new efforts to find Tice. It comes as Syrian rebels are releasing political prisoners and dissidents.
Both U.S. officials and Tice’s family are hopeful he’s still alive.
“We believe he is alive,” President Joe Biden told reporters Monday, Dec. 9. “We think we can get him back but we don’t have direct evidence of that yet. And Assad should be held accountable.”
“President Joe Biden has consistently said that Austin is alive,” his sister Naomi Tice told CBS News. “And recently, we were able to independently verify that with another source. And so, we have full confidence that Austin is indeed alive, that he is in Syria, and that he is absolutely waiting to walk free.”
The Texas native is a U.S. Marine veteran and graduate of Georgetown University. He wrote for news outlets, including The Washington Post and McClatchy.
Syria’s old regime under President Bashar al-Assad denied holding Tice or any other Americans.
The FBI said Sunday it is still offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Tice coming home safely.
