Biden says U.S. government believes Austin Tice is alive in Syria
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President Biden told reporters Sunday that the U.S. believes American journalist Austin Tice, who has been missing in Syria for 12 years, is alive and that "we think we can get him back."
State of play: The collapse of the Assad regime and the emptying of political prisons in Syria has raised new hope for the release of Tice, a freelance journalist who was abducted while reporting on the civil war in 2012.
- "We remain committed to returning him to his family," Biden said, though he cautioned that the U.S. does not have "direct evidence" of his condition.
- "We are reaching out to all contacts in government and the region. We encourage everyone to help us in our search for Austin. As a family, we are all in D.C. working for his fast and safe return," the Tice family told Axios in a statement.
Driving the news: Thousands of prisoners have poured out onto the streets of Damascus and other cities as Syrian rebels declared the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, who oversaw one of the most brutal police states in the world.
- Among the facilities being emptied is the notorious Sednaya prison on the outskirts of Damascus — known as the "human slaughterhouse" for its use of torture and mass hangings.
- Countless political prisoners and Syrians disappeared into the country's vast and shadowy detention system over the Assad family's five-decade rule. Many are now being reunited with their families.
Tice's mother, Debra, had said at a press conference in D.C. Friday that she believes her son is alive, citing a "significant source" that has been "vetted all over our government."
- Debra Tice did not identify the source, but said she has "no doubt" that Austin is alive and being "treated well." The family met with Biden administration officials earlier in the day.
- Tice's father, Marc, said the family has "fielded a lot of false propositions and statements" about Tice's whereabouts and condition over the years — but that this is "very different."
Flashback: Tice, a Marine Corps veteran and one of the few American journalists inside Syria, was abducted while reporting on the country's civil war on Aug. 12, 2012.
- A month later, a video was released showing a blindfolded Tice being held by armed and masked men. He was 31 at the time of his disappearance.
- On the 10th anniversary of Tice's captivity, President Biden said in a statement that "we know with certainty that he has been held by the Government of Syria."
- The Assad regime — which collapsed Sunday as Syrian rebels seized control of Damascus — has never acknowledged Tice's detention.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from President Biden.
