Austin Tice: Missing US journalist's mother renews Syria search

Debra Tice, the mother of American journalist Austin Tice, has returned to Syria for the first time in ten years, hoping to renew the search for her son. Austin Tice was kidnapped in Syria in 2012 while reporting, and is one of the longest-held American hostages.

Debra Tice's visit comes after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime last month in a lightning offensive by rebels. Her son, a 43-year-old freelance journalist, was captured in Daraya, a suburb of Damascus, while covering the Syrian civil war. "We had some information, but the whole world has changed," she said in an interview in the Syrian capital, Damascus, referring to the overthrow of Assad.

"We don't know where he is now. It feels a bit like going back to square one, trying to figure out his whereabouts again." Tice's last appearance was in a video released weeks after his capture, where he was blindfolded and appeared to be in distress. Although for years, US officials have said they believe Tice is being held by the Assad government, no government or organization has claimed responsibility for the matter.

According to recent reports in the US media, investigators believe that Tice, a former US Marine, briefly escaped a few weeks after being kidnapped, but was recaptured by forces directly under Assad's command. Last month, after rebels led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew Assad and seized power, US President Joe Biden said that the US believes Tice is still alive, but his whereabouts remain unknown. The rebels have opened Syrian prisons, releasing thousands of people, and allowed experts to review documents that may reveal the fate of Tice and other missing persons.

"I've never doubted...I've always known (Tice) would be free. And, you know, we have a whole new idea about how to achieve that," she said. "I can't wait to hug him." Debra Tice stated that she wears a "Free Austin Tice" badge even at home. On Sunday, she met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria, who vowed to hold those responsible for the worst crimes of the Assad regime accountable.

She said she hopes that families will continue to have access to facilities holding prisoners, "so that people can search and keep hope." She added, "I am here to be with people who understand the longing, to celebrate with people who are being reunited, and also to support those of us who are still searching, waiting, hoping, and praying."

Her last visit to Syria was in 2015, when the country's authorities stopped issuing her visas. Now, she says, "people are more relaxed," and "there are smiles on children's faces." She stated, "I hope to be one of the mothers, one of the families, who finds the one I love and hugs him, and then takes him home."