Family of US Journalist Captive in Syria for 12 Years ‘Extremely Hopeful’ for Return Following Assad’s Downfall | World News
The relatives of a US journalist who has been missing in Syria for the past 12 years express that they are “deeply hopeful” about his safe return amid the “turmoil” following the collapse of Bashar al Assad’s government.
Austin Tice was reportedly taken captive near Damascus in August 2012 while on assignment for the Syrian civil war.
At the time of his abduction, the freelance journalist was 31 years old.
In an interview with The World with Yalda Hakim on Sky News, his siblings shared that a “void” has existed within the family since then, yet they have always maintained hope for his return.
With the recent fall of the Assad regime due to a rebel uprising in Syria, Mr. Tice’s family is optimistic about his potential release at the age of 43.
Abigail Edaburn, his sister, mentioned that the family recently received confirmation of his well-being from trustworthy sources, while US President Joe Biden indicated that his administration believes Mr. Tice is still alive.
In a conversation with Yalda Hakim, Jacob Tice, the journalist’s brother, stated: “We are aware that significant efforts are currently underway to locate him across Syria, particularly in Damascus.
“There are individuals on the ground who care for Austin. They are dedicated to ensuring his return, working diligently to bring him home.
“This brings us immense hope and optimism. Again, we urge anyone who hears this to assist in bringing Austin back to us, to help reunite him with his family.”
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Jacob Tice and Abigail Edaburn, the siblings of missing US journalist Austin Tice
The family recounted that they were on vacation together when Mr. Tice stopped replying to messages, leading them to realize he had most likely been captured.
Jacob mentioned, “There is a void in our family that has been present for 12 years at every Christmas, for every graduation, at all of our weddings, and at the birth of my sister’s children, whom he has never met, except for one.”
“It is hard to express what that feels like when we gather, knowing he is absent from our table. As a family, there is nothing we desire more than to fill that void and have him back with us, reclaiming his seat at our table.”
When asked if the family felt anxious watching the rebel uprising and the fall of the Assad regime, Abigail replied: “It has been anxiety-inducing, but it’s also filled us with immense hope as we have witnessed families being reunited.
“We’ve seen countless families restored. So, we are incredibly optimistic that in this moment, our family will experience the same.”
Pic: AP
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Jacob continued, noting that the family has never lost hope over the last 12 years.
“We have believed every single day that Austin would be freed. We have had consistent faith that his release is imminent, and that we would once again be united with him,” Jacob stated.
“In this pivotal moment in Syrian history, the tone surrounding that hope seems to have shifted. The urgency for us, as a family, has grown because we recognize that amidst chaos, there are chances for change, for resetting the status quo, and for altering the prevailing circumstances.
“However, throughout the past 12 years, we have consistently believed that we will be reunited with our brother.”
On Sunday, the FBI announced that a reward of $1 million (£780,000) remains available for information leading to Mr. Tice’s “safe location, recovery, and return”.
During a press conference at the White House on Sunday, President Biden affirmed that his administration believes Mr. Tice is still alive while efforts are underway to determine his exact location in a nation striving for stability following the rapid collapse of the Assad regime.
