The FBI is providing a reward of as much as $1 million for info resulting in the secure restoration of Austin Tice, a former Marine turned journalist who was kidnapped by jihadist militants in 2012 whereas reporting in Syria.
“Given current occasions in Syria, the FBI is renewing our name for info that might result in the secure location, restoration, and return of Austin Bennett Tice, who was detained in Damascus in August 2012,” the FBI mentioned in an announcement.
“The FBI and our authorities companions stay dedicated to bringing Austin dwelling to his household, and we’re nonetheless providing a reward of as much as $1 million for info that results in Austin’s secure return. If in case you have info, please e-mail FindAustinTice@fbi.gov or submit a tip by way of tips.fbi.gov. You may as well contact your native FBI workplace of the closest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.”
Tice, 43, was a captain within the Marine Corps and journeyed to Syria as an unbiased journalist in Could 2012, earlier than his remaining 12 months at Georgetown Regulation College.
AUSTIN TICE: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT AMERICAN JOURNALIST MISSING IN SYRIA
Debra Tice, mom of Austin Tice, speaks throughout a information convention updating the media about her eldest son’s situation because the household continues to push for his launch, on Dec. 6, 2024, on the Nationwide Press Membership in Washington. (AP Picture/Jacquelyn Martin)
The Texas native was overlaying occasions in Syria for McClatchy, The Washington Put up and different information organizations report, when he disappeared simply days after turning 31. He was kidnapped whereas reporting in Damascus on the rebellion in opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. There was no declare of duty for his abduction.
“We have now from a major supply that has been vetted throughout our authorities: Austin Tice is alive,” his mom Debra Tice advised journalists on the Nationwide Press Membership on Friday, earlier than going to the White Home for a gathering with different relations.
“He’s being cared for and he’s properly — we do know that,” Debra Tice mentioned.
A video launched weeks after his abduction confirmed him blindfolded and held by armed males and saying, “Oh, Jesus.” The boys within the video have Tice certain and blindfolded. They chanted “Allah-Akbar” all through the clip and at one level, compelled him to recite a prayer in damaged Arabic.
He has not been heard from since.
Syria has publicly denied that it was holding him. Nationwide Safety Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Tice’s household Friday afternoon, White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre advised reporters.
“Jake Sullivan did have a gathering with Austin Tice’s household this afternoon, and … Jake Sullivan has usually met with the households of wrongfully detained Individuals,” she mentioned. “We will proceed to ensure that we get Individuals who’re wrongfully detained or Individuals dwelling to their households.”
Marc Tice, left, and Debra Tice, the mother and father of Austin Tice, a journalist who was kidnapped in Syria, replace the media about their son’s situation as they proceed to push for his launch throughout a information convention on the Nationwide Press Membership in Washington on Friday. (AP Picture/Jacquelyn Martin)
“Austin Tice’s household, I can’t even think about what they’re going by means of,” she added.
The assembly unfolded amid ongoing turmoil in Syria, as rebel fighters who’ve already captured the northern metropolis of Aleppo, the nation’s largest, are urgent their march in opposition to President Bashar Assad’s forces.
BIDEN SAYS US KNOWS ‘WITH CERTAINTY’ THAT AMERICAN JOURNALIST AUSTIN TICE IS BEING HELD BY SYRIA
Austin Tice’s sister, Naomi, mentioned she requested officers whether or not there was a method to leverage the unrest to assist safe Austin’s freedom. “We have been mainly simply advised that we have to wait and see the way it pans out” — a response she mentioned could have been “comprehensible” however was “past irritating.”
Tice’s father, Marc, mentioned they’re assured that this info is recent. He mentioned it indicated as late as earlier this 12 months that Austin is alive and being cared for.
“And we do hope to make as a lot of this public as we are able to,” he mentioned.
He was pissed off that state officers had secured the discharge of different U.S. hostages in current months.
“We have now seen what actual dedication appears like. We’ve seen it in Russia. We’ve seen it in China, we’ve seen in Venezuela, we see it in Gaza,” he mentioned, referring to locations the place hostages have been launched in current months. “And we’ve but to see it for us.”
In August 2020, President Biden referred to as on Syria to launch Tice, saying the U.S. authorities is aware of “with certainty” that he’s being held by the Syrian regime.
In June 2017, the New York Instances reported that then-CIA Director and present Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had reached out to a Syrian authorities official in an effort to safe Tice’s launch. The backchannel shut down, nevertheless, after Syria launched a nerve gasoline assault on rebel-held territory within the northern a part of the nation. The Trump administration responded with a missile strike and negotiations fell by means of.
In April 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) provided a $1 million reward “for info main on to the secure location, restoration, and return of” the previous Marine.
Pompeo referred to as upon the Syrian authorities to launch Tice, and every other American hostages being held in Syria, again in September 2019 whereas addressing members of the media.
Within the remaining months of the Trump administration, two U.S. officers — the federal government’s prime hostage negotiator, Roger Carstens, and Kash Patel, now Trump’s choose to steer the FBI — made a secret go to to Damascus to hunt info on Tice and different Individuals who had disappeared in Syria.
Freelance journalist Austin Tice went lacking in Syria in 2012 and has not been heard from since. (Fort Value Star-Telegram/Tribune Information Service by way of Getty Pictures)
Debra Tice mentioned that when President-elect Trump was final in workplace, he had “an obsession” together with her son and bringing him dwelling.
“It’s already on his thoughts. He’s already able to go get him dwelling,” she mentioned of Trump Friday, per the Washington Put up.
“No matter sorts of emotions you might have, this mama has a extremely good feeling for somebody who’s going to handle her youngster — I’d take that from anybody.”
Fox Information’ Nick Givas, Reuters, and the Related Press contributed to this report.
