The new Trump administration has pledged to help recover her son, who went missing in Syria in 2012, according to the mother of American journalist Austin Tices on Monday.
Debra Tice told a media conference in Damascus that she had renewed hope that new leadership in America and Syria would support the ongoing search efforts for her son, even though she did not present any new findings from her first visit to the country in ten years and her first since Bashar al-Assad’s regime was overthrown.
According to Debra Tice, “I sincerely hope that the Trump administration will engage in diligent work to bring Austin home.” I’ve already been contacted by his people. For the past four years, I haven’t had that experience.
Before going missing in 2012, Austin Tice, now 43, was among the first American journalists to cover the 2011 start of the Syrian civil war. The Syrian government was holding him, according to the State Department. The regime of former President Bashar al-Assad strongly refuted the charge.
Before they stopped issuing her visas, Debra Tice met with Syrian authorities in 2012 and 2015, but they never verified if her kid was in their possession.
According to a U.S. official with direct knowledge who spoke to NBC News, U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens visited Lebanon in December to obtain additional information regarding Austin Tice’s location. Although we don’t yet have concrete proof, Bidentoldreporters, we believe we can win him back.
Tice’s mother said on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt at the time that she had received information shortly before the fall of the Assad regime that her son was alive and receiving proper care, and that the reunion of the family was simply a matter of time.
Since then, Austin’s whereabouts have remained unclear, but on Monday, the journalist’s mother informed reporters that the Trump administration had already contacted her to offer assistance.
“I am excited to collaborate closely with his new team, which includes Special Presidential Envoy Adam Boehler and national security advisor Mike Waltz,” she said.
The president of Syria’s new government, Ahmed al-Sharaa, who headed the rebel group that overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s administration last month, met with Tice the day before her press presentation. “The new authorities can help uncover more information about Austin,” she said.
I have had the honor of meeting with Syria’s new leadership while I’ve been in Damascus. On Monday, she added, “It was so wonderful to learn that they are dedicated and determined to bring my son home.”
He came here as a journalist to share the Syrian people’s story with the world, and while doing so, he fell deeply in love with his stunning homeland. “I have fallen in love with this beautiful country,” Tice continued.
In recent months, Tice has voiced differing views on the departing Biden administration for not pressing hard enough to secure her son’s release, even though her visit coincided with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, whom she spoke highly of.
Tice said she would wait, pray, and let the dust settle from all these page turns for the time being. She will return to the United States on Tuesday.