Mother of journalist missing in Syria arrives in Damascus
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Debra Tice, the mother of American journalist Austin Tice, arrived on Sunday in Damascus, the Syrian capital, in hopes of bringing her son back home.
Reuters reported that Debra’s visit is part of renewed efforts to locate her son, whom she believes is still in Syria. She stated, “I feel very strongly that Austin’s here, and I think he knows I’m here… I’m here.”
She was accompanied by Nizar Zakka, president of Hostage Aid Worldwide, an organization dedicated to supporting hostages and their families globally.
Austin Tice, now 43 years old, was kidnapped in August 2012 while traveling through Daraya, a suburb of Damascus. A former Marine, Austin reportedly escaped captivity in 2013 and was seen moving between houses in the Mezzeh neighborhood, a wealthy district in Damascus.
However, current and former U.S. officials believe that forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad likely recaptured him shortly after his escape.
Debra Tice has previously visited Syria in 2012 and 2015 to meet with Syrian officials. However, both she and Zakka noted that the Syrian authorities have never officially confirmed holding Austin in custody.
Debra criticized the administration of President Joe Biden for not negotiating with sufficient determination for her son’s release, particularly in recent months.