The Upheaval of the Syrian Regime Ignites Hope for Missing Journalist Austin Tice and His Family
The fall of the Syrian regime has sparked renewed hope for the family of Austin Tice, an American journalist who was kidnapped in 2012 while reporting in Damascus. Tice, a former U.S. Marine, was seen on a video released after his capture, wearing a black blindfold, and has not been heard from since.
In an effort to locate Tice, Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst ventured to the National Security building in Damascus, a facility where the Assad regime held “most important” prisoners. Locals reported that the building was abandoned, with officials having vacated the site and set fire to the remaining documents to destroy information.
Yingst explored the basement of the detention center, which showed signs of torture and horrific conditions, and discovered detailed prisoner logs for various Syrian detention centers. However, he was unable to find any information on Tice.
The State Department’s Reward for Justice program is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to Tice’s location. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting the search effort, stating, “We’re determined to find [Tice] and bring him home to his family and loved ones.”
Austin’s sisters, Naomi and Meagan Tice, joined “America’s Newsroom” to react to Blinken’s comments, expressing frustration at the lack of progress in the search for their brother. Meagan Tice stated, “It’s incredibly frustrating to hear those words from Secretary Blinken because they have had no access to assistance, no access to aid.”
The sisters implored President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump to provide support in bringing their brother home.