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Syria has denied kidnapping US journalist Austin Tice who disappeared a decade in the past only a week after Joe Biden demanded his launch.
The previous US Marine was kidnapped in August 2012 aged 31 whereas reporting freelance in Damascus on the rebellion in opposition to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
His household believes he’s alive and nonetheless being held in Syria. The id of Tice’s captors shouldn’t be recognized, and there was no declare of accountability for his abduction.
The Syrian International Ministry described Tice as a US serviceman and denied the federal government was holding him or every other US citizen after Biden’s assertions final week.
The assertion mentioned that Damascus ‘denies it had kidnapped or is holding any American citizen on its territories.’
‘The US issued final week deceptive and illogical statements by the American president and secretary of state that included baseless accusations in opposition to Syria that it had kidnapped or detained Americans together with former US Marine Austin Tice,’ the assertion mentioned.
Austin Tice is seen praying in Arabic and English whereas blindfolded within the presence of gunmen shortly after his disappearance
President Joe Biden accused Syria of holding lacking journalist Austin Tice. He was final seen 10 years in the past after being snatched whereas overlaying the nation’s civil struggle
Final week, on the tenth anniversary of his disappearance and the day earlier than his birthday, Biden mentioned he knew the Syrian authorities had been holding Tice.
‘He’s a son, he’s a brother, and he’s an investigative journalist who put the reality above himself and traveled to Syria to indicate the world the actual value of struggle,’ mentioned the president.
‘We all know with certainty that he has been held by the Syrian regime.
‘Now we have repeatedly requested the federal government of Syria to work with us in order that we will convey Austin house.
‘On the tenth anniversary of his abduction, I’m calling on Syria to finish this and assist us convey him house.’
State Division Spokesman Ned Worth informed reporters on Tuesday that the US authorities has pushed Syria to return each American.
On Tice’s case particularly, he mentioned, the Biden administration has ‘engaged extensively – and that features immediately – with Syrian officers and thru third events.’
Tice labored for CBS Information, The Washington Put up and McClatchy amongst others
‘Syria has by no means acknowledged holding him,’ Worth mentioned of Tice, including that ‘we’re not going to be deterred in our efforts. We’re going to pursue each avenue for securing Austin’s secure return.’
The Syrian International Ministry denied in its assertion having any secret contacts with US officers on the lacking Individuals, including that ‘any official dialogue with the American authorities will solely be public primarily based on the respect of Syria’s sovereignty.’
In Might, high Lebanese safety official Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim met with US officers in Washington as a part of mediation efforts between the US and Syria for Tice’s launch.
Ibrahim, the chief of Lebanon’s Common Safety Directorate, has mediated sophisticated hostage releases up to now.
Tice, a contract journalist for a number of information organizations together with CBS Information, The Washington Put up and McClatchy, went lacking at a checkpoint in a contested space west of the capital Damascus.
A video launched by supporters of Assad later confirmed him blindfolded and distressed, surrounded by captors.
Austin Tice’s mom Debra mentioned she had by no means wavered in her willpower to convey her son house. She and her husband met Biden in Might
He might be heard saying: ‘Oh, Jesus.’
Nothing extra has been seen of him since.
Nonetheless, officers have repeatedly prompt that they imagine he’s nonetheless alive.
4 years in the past, U.S. envoy to Syria James Jeffrey mentioned he believed Tice as being held hostage, however provided no additional info.
Two years in the past, Trump administration officers traveled to Syria to safe his launch however returned empty handed.
Officers in Damascus reportedly mentioned there may no negotiations about any prisoners as long as U.S. troops have been within the nation.
All through the ups and downs, the lacking journalist’s dad and mom have stored up a marketing campaign to convey him house.
‘I’ve by no means wavered. I am not wavering now,’ his mom Debra informed CBS Information in an interview earlier this week.
‘There is not any cause to not imagine that he is ready and hoping and dreaming and planning to stroll free.’
Tice is from Houston, Texas, and traveled to Syria to report on the brutal battle that erupted in 2011 in the course of the Arab Spring
Tice is from Houston, Texas, and traveled to Syria to report on the brutal battle that erupted in 2011 in the course of the Arab Spring.
In Might, Biden met with Tice’s dad and mom and promised that he would use each device obtainable to safe ‘Austin’s lengthy overdue return to his household.’
Final week, the president reiterated his promise.
‘The Tice household deserves solutions, and extra importantly, they need to be swiftly reunited with Austin,’ he mentioned.
‘We stand with Austin’s many family members, and we is not going to relaxation till we convey Austin house.
‘Ten years is much, far too lengthy. So is each further day.’
Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded that Damascus admit its position.
We proceed to demand that Syrian officers fulfill their obligations underneath the Vienna Conference on Consular Relations to acknowledge the detention of Austin and each different U.S. nationwide held in Syria, a accountability underneath worldwide regulation and an essential step in securing their launch,’ he mentioned.
Tice is certainly one of two Individuals who went lacking in Syria. The opposite is Majd Kamalmaz, a psychologist from Virginia, who vanished in Syria in 2017.
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