US works to find, free journalist Austin Tice after Assad regime falls in Syria

Dec 10, 2024

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Roey Hadar (Producer), Harry Fogle (Video Editor)

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.

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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.

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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.

Tags: Austin Tice, hostage, Joe Biden, Prisoners, Syria

LAUREN TAYLOR: Rebels bringing down Syria’s regime is sparking new hope that Austin Tice – the American freelance journalist captured more than 12 years ago in Syria – could soon come home.

U.S. officials say they’re working to get as much information they can about Tice, who was captured as a 31-year-old and would now be 43.

The Texas native is a veteran of the U.S. Marines and graduate of Georgetown University. He wrote for outlets including The Washington Post and McClatchy.

While working as a freelancer, Tice was abducted in August 2012 near Damascus, a little over a year after the start of the Syrian Civil War. It led to efforts by the U.S. government and groups like the nonprofit Reporters without Borders to help with the search.

The White House sent its special envoy for hostages to Beirut, in neighboring Lebanon, to lead new efforts to find Tice as Syria’s rebels let political prisoners and dissidents out.

Both U.S. officials and Tice’s family are hopeful that he is still alive.

President Joe Biden: “We believe he is alive. We think we can get him back but we don’t have direct evidence of that yet and Assad should be held accountable.”

Naomi Tice / Sister of Austin Tice:“President Joe Biden has consistently said that Austin is alive. 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.

LAUREN TAYLOR: Syria’s old regime under President Bashar al-Assad denied holding Tice or any other Americans.

On Sunday, the FBI said it is still offering a $1 million reward for information leading to Tice coming home safely.