Austin Tice's mother embarks on a poignant quest as she revisits the country a decade after his abduction.
**Mother of Missing Journalist Returns to Syria in Hope of Finding Son**
**Mother of Missing Journalist Returns to Syria in Hope of Finding Son**
Debra Tice's renewed search for her son shines light on the plight of hostages after the recent shift in power dynamics in Syria.
The mother of Austin Tice, a U.S. journalist who has been missing in Syria since 2012, has made her first return to the war-torn country in ten years to reignite the search for her son. Following the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime—a shift brought about by a startling rebel offensive—Debra Tice is hopeful of finding new leads in her son's long-disappearance.
Austin Tice, a freelance journalist and former U.S. Marine, was abducted while reporting in the Damascus suburb of Darayya. Debra described her current situation as akin to “square one,” lamenting the changes that have unsettled existing information and complicating her search. “We have no idea where he is now,” she stated, capturing the uncertainty that her family has faced throughout the years.
The last known sighting of Austin was in a distressing video released shortly after his capture. Although no group has officially taken responsibility for his kidnapping, U.S. officials have long held suspicions that he remains in the custody of the Assad regime. Speculation has emerged recently that Tice may have momentarily evaded capture before being recaptured by Assad’s forces.
Debra’s visit comes with a glimmer of hope as U.S. President Joe Biden asserted that the U.S. believes Tice is still alive, even if his exact location remains elusive. With recent uprisings leading to the opening of prisons and the release of numerous detainees, there could potentially be fresh information regarding Tice’s status.
In a meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new Syrian de facto leader, Debra expressed her unwavering hope for her son’s return. “I’ve never had a moment of doubt... I always knew that [Tice] is going to walk free,” she said, noting the emotional weight of her journey.
Debra’s last trip to Syria was cut short by visa restrictions in 2015, but she now perceives a softening atmosphere in the country. Describing the children’s brighter smiles these days, she dreams of the day she can embrace Austin once more. “I want to be one of the moms, one of the families that finds my loved one and throbs my arms around him and takes them home,” she declared passionately.
