Austin Tice's Family Holds Hope for His Return Following Syrian Regime Collapse

The discovery of another American detainee in Syria has renewed optimism for the release of journalist Austin Tice, missing since 2012.

Austin Tice, a journalist and former U.S. Marine, was abducted in Syria in 2012 while covering the country's civil war and remains the longest-held American journalist in U.S. history.
The recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria has led to the release of thousands of prisoners, raising hopes for locating Tice, though his whereabouts remain unknown.
Debra Tice, Austin's mother, expressed cautious optimism after another American, Travis Timmerman, was recently freed from a Syrian prison by rebel forces.
President Joe Biden and U.S. officials have reaffirmed their belief that Tice is alive and have prioritized efforts to secure his release, including engaging with Syria's new leadership and intermediaries.
Hostage Aid Worldwide and other groups are actively searching for Tice, with concerns that remnants of the Assad regime may still be holding him as leverage.