DAMASCUS, Syria — On Monday, Debra Tice, the mother of American journalist Austin Tice, shared that the Trump administration had previously extended assistance in efforts to locate her son, who vanished in Syria in 2012.
Tice made these comments during a news conference in Damascus, marking her first trip back to Syria since insurgents overthrew President Bashar Assad last month. However, she did not reveal any new information regarding the ongoing search for her son.
Austin Tice has been unaccounted for since his disappearance, with the only evidence of his fate being a video released shortly thereafter, in which he appeared blindfolded and was surrounded by armed individuals. It’s estimated that tens of thousands of people have gone missing in Syria since 2011, following massive protests against Assad’s regime that led to a brutal civil war.
In December, then-President Joe Biden expressed confidence that the U.S. could facilitate Tice’s return but acknowledged the absence of “direct evidence” affirming his safety.
“I have immense hope that the Trump administration will sincerely engage in diligent work to bring Austin home,” Debra Tice stated. “His people have already reached out to me. I haven’t experienced that for the last four years.”
While the former Syrian government claimed they were not holding Austin, Tice remains hopeful that collaboration with the new administration might lead to new developments. In a statement made in December, she mentioned that the family had received information from a source indicating that her son was alive and in good condition. She reiterated her belief in his safety during the press conference, saying, “Austin, if you can somehow hear this, I love you. I know you’re not giving up, and neither am I.”
Tice noted having a fruitful meeting with Ahmad al-Sharaa, the leader of the current Syrian government, describing him as “dedicated and determined” to assist in the return of Austin and others who are missing in the region.
Additionally, she visited two military intelligence prisons known for their widespread incarceration practices and the systematic use of torture. She described her experience as “an unbelievably, horrible nightmare.”
Hailing from Houston, Tice’s journalistic work has been published in several prominent media outlets, including The Washington Post and McClatchy newspapers.