The search for Houston native and freelance journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing for over 12 years since being captured in Damascus, intensifies as the FBI has announced a reward of up to $1 million for details directly leading to Tice's safe return. Information from Click2Houston indicates that Tice, known for his work published by The Washington Post and McClatchy newspapers, has not been heard from since a video surfaced weeks after his capture showing him blindfolded under armed guard.
In a recent development following the overthrow of Bashar Assad in Syria, the family of Austin Tice has expressed renewed hope for his safe return. President Joe Biden added that the U.S. believes Tice is still alive and is committed to his repatriation, while an unidentified government official suggested the U.S. will continue to work towards his location and recovery despite having no new evidence, according to statements obtained by Click2Houston.
In an interview with ABC News Live Prime, Tice's parents, Debra and Marc, spoke of their optimistic anticipation. Debra Tice noted they are "feeling very hopeful," and Marc Tice conveyed that the situation now feels "much more immediate and much more promising than any time in memory," as reported by ABC News.
Following the change in leadership in Damascus, the Tice family visited the White House in early December and confirmed through a source that their son, Austin Tice, is alive, although specific details remain undisclosed. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has emphasized the U.S. government's continued efforts to locate Tice, including outreach to rebel groups as they work to clear prisons controlled by the Assad regime. Tice, a journalist, went missing in August 2012 while covering the conflict in Darayya, a suburb of Damascus. While there has been no direct evidence confirming his status, both his family and the U.S. government maintain the belief that he is alive, based on the lack of evidence to the contrary.
The years have been marked by the Tice family's resilience, as Debra Tice shared with ABC News. During this time, Austin’s siblings have completed their education, started careers, and built families, but their hope for his return remains constant. With the evolving political situation in Syria, there is a renewed sense of urgency. Both the Tice family and the U.S. government recognize that changes in the region could either advance or complicate efforts to secure Austin Tice's return.
