President Biden States US Hostage Austin Tice Is Believed to Be Alive in Syria

President Joe Biden has announced that the United States will endeavor to secure the return of one of the longest-held American hostages, following the recent collapse of the Syrian government. Speaking from the White House, Biden conveyed that the US government believes Austin Tice is alive, but stressed the necessity of determining his precise location within the conflict-ridden country. Mr. Tice, a freelance journalist, is thought to have been taken captive near Damascus on August 14, 2012, while he was reporting on Syria’s civil war. On Sunday, rebel combatants seized the Syrian capital, marking the culmination of a rapid offensive initiated two weeks prior. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has since departed the country. Biden characterized Assad’s exit as a “fundamental act of justice” after decades of repression, while also acknowledging it as “a moment of risk and uncertainty” for the Middle East region. “We are mindful that there are Americans in Syria,” Biden stated on Sunday, “including those who reside there, as well as Austin Tice, who was taken captive more than 12 years ago.” “We remain committed to returning him to his family.” As he was exiting the room, Biden paused to address a media query concerning Tice. “We believe he’s alive,” the president affirmed. “We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet.” The president further stated: “We have to identify where he is.” Mr. Tice, who is 43 years old, was last observed in a video uploaded online weeks following his capture, appearing blindfolded and in visible distress. Although no government or organization asserted responsibility for his disappearance, US officials promptly indicated their belief that the former US Marine was being detained by the Syrian government. Abigail Edaburn, Mr. Tice’s sister, informed the BBC on Friday that their family believes he remains within Syria. She stated: “We don’t know the exact circumstances of the place that he’s being held, but we do know it is in Syria and that he is healthy and well.” She further added: “I don’t know how much I can say, but there have been independent, trusted sources that have been able to verify this information.” The FBI announced in a statement on Sunday that a reward of $1 million continues to be offered for details that facilitate Mr. Tice’s “safe location, recovery and return.” The United States maintains approximately 900 troops in Syria, and President Biden indicated on Sunday his intention for these forces to remain deployed. The president additionally reported that US forces executed “dozens” of what he termed “precision air strikes” on Sunday, targeting Islamic State group camps and operational sites in eastern Syria. President-elect Donald Trump commented on Saturday that the US ought to refrain from military intervention in Syria. He conveyed on social media: “THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT.” The Syrian opposition movement responsible for the overthrow of Assad is spearheaded by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an entity that has been officially designated as a terrorist group by the Biden administration. The United States, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and other entities regard HTS as an affiliate of al-Qaeda, notwithstanding HTS’s assertion that it severed its connections with the Sunni Islamist organization several years ago. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.