President Joe Biden said Sunday that the United States (U.S.) believes American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing in Syria for over 12 years, is alive and efforts are underway to locate him. Speaking at the White House after the fall of the Assad regime, Biden reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to bringing Tice home.
“We believe he’s alive. We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet,” Biden said. He added that the U.S. must first identify Tice’s exact location in Syria.
Austin Tice, a Texas-born freelance journalist and former U.S. Marine, was abducted near Damascus on August 14, 2012, while reporting on the Syrian civil war. Shortly after, a video showed him blindfolded and in distress, surrounded by armed men. The Syrian government has consistently denied detaining him.
The collapse of the Assad regime and the release of thousands of prisoners, including from the notorious Sednaya prison, have raised hopes for Tice’s return.
Tice’s parents, Debra and Marc Tice, said they are hopeful after receiving new information from trusted sources, vetted by U.S. officials, that Austin is alive. “We hope this is the day we’ve been waiting and praying for,” Debra said.
The family has expressed frustration over delays and urged the U.S. government to prioritize their son’s case. Marc said, “We’ve seen efforts for hostages in Russia, China, and Venezuela. It’s time to see that same level of commitment for Austin.”
Biden emphasized that U.S. officials are reaching out to contacts in Syria and the region to gather information about Tice’s location. “We will not rest until Austin Tice is brought home,” Biden said.
The FBI continues to offer a $1 million reward for information leading to Tice’s return.
