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State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday that the United States has engaged directly with Syrian officials for the safe return of Austin Tice, an American journalist and veteran who was kidnapped 10 years ago at a roadblock near Damascus.
“When it comes to our efforts to seek Austin’s safe return, we have worked hard, and that includes Syrian officials directly and through third parties,” Price said in a press conference on Monday.
“Unfortunately, despite our appeals, despite our commitment, despite the commitment of third parties in other countries, Syria has never acknowledged holding him back, but we are going to not be discouraged in our efforts.”
FILE – In this image from an undated video posted on YouTube, American freelance journalist Austin Tice, who had worked for American news outlets in Syria until his disappearance in August 2012, prays in Arabic and English while blindfolded in attendance of armed men.
(Photo AP, File)
Tice, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, traveled to Syria in May 2012 to cover the country’s civil war before his senior year at Georgetown Law School.
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He was kidnapped near Damascus in August 2012 by what his family described as an “unusual group of apparent jihadists”.
A short video surfaced online several weeks after his capture showing Tice blindfolded and muttering “Oh Jesus” while surrounded by gunmen.
Debra Tice, mother of US journalist Austin Tice, reacts after a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, on December 4, 2018.
(REUTERS / Mohamed Azakir)
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President Biden said last week that despite Syria’s denials, his administration is confident the regime is holding Tice.
“We know for certain that he has been held by the Syrian regime,” Biden said on August 10. “We have repeatedly asked the Syrian government to work with us so that we can bring Austin home. On the 10th anniversary of his kidnapping, I ask Syria to put an end to this and help us bring him home.”
