AUSTIN Tice’s mom fears the “greatest probability” for her son to return residence has been missed – however has by no means misplaced hope they are going to in the future be reunited.
American journalist Austin was kidnapped in Syria greater than a decade in the past whereas documenting the horrors of Bashar Al-Assad’s brutal crackdown.
It sparked ongoing torture for his household again in Houston, Texas, who do not know the place he’s now.
Completely different accounts have positioned the US Marine Corps veteran alive in a cell, whereas others claimed he was killed a few years in the past.
However for his mum Debra, her insistance that he’s alive has remained unwavering – as has her tireless marketing campaign to convey him residence.
Talking to The Solar 14 years on from his disappearance, courageous Debra informed The Solar: “We’ve got no motive to consider that he’s not alive now.
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“I’m very shut with God, and I do know different moms whose family members haven’t come residence, they usually knew nearly instantly. I’ve by no means, ever had that second.
“I’ve all the time believed that we are going to see him.”
Austin was freelancing for The Washington Submit and McClatchy when he entered Syria in Might 2012 and travelled via rebel-held areas.
He was simply days away from leaving the war-torn nation he vanished on August 13 whereas passing via a checkpoint close to Darayya, southwestern suburb of capital Damascus.
After seven weeks of silence, a sickening video emerged displaying a visibly distressed Austin blindfolded and certain by the hands whereas being led by his armed captors.
They could possibly be heard shouting Allahu Akbar” earlier than Austin was compelled to recite an Islamic prayer in Arabic.
It was the final time Austin was seen.
Regardless of the video and different proof suggesting he’s alive, the Syrian authorities has persistently denied holding him, complicating efforts to safe his launch.
Debra believes the most effective probability the US authorities had at bringing her beloved son residence was within the preliminary months after he was kidnapped.
She mentioned: “The factor that has made it tougher is studying a lot extra about [how] bringing Austin residence was simpler earlier – and it was simply ignored.
“And to completely know that as the reality, that does make it worse.
“He might have been residence earlier than Christmas in 2012.”
Successive administrations in America haven’t been capable of negotiate Austin’s launch – however Debra stands agency in saying the federal government knew whereabouts, up till Assad’s fall from energy.
Assad’s tyrannical regime was dramatically toppled from energy late in 2024, and hundreds of its prisoners emerged into the sunshine after years of being locked up.
However Austin wasn’t amongst them.
It served yet one more blow to Austin’s household – and sparked much more questions on the place he could possibly be.
“The US authorities has identified the place Austin was each single day and the complete time of his detention,” Debra mentioned.
“However then, as of December 2024, we do not know.
“We do not know the place he’s. Is he in Iran? Is he in Lebanon? Is he in Syria? The place is he in Syria?
“It’s one other ache to our household, one other hit to us.
“You’ve had 12 years to convey him residence – and now it’s actually onerous.
“[Not enough has been done] as a result of he isn’t residence.
“I’ve seven youngsters, that’s the variety of completion. And we’re lacking one.
“He put his life on the road for our nation. That ought to imply one thing.”
Austin, the oldest of seven siblings, would have turned 45 on August 11.
His youngest sister Abigail informed how they maintain the fledgling journalist current of their lives.
Talking fondly of her large brother, she mentioned: “His birthday simply handed, we went out to dinner and we speak about him on a regular basis.
“My children know uncle Austin, he’s a part of our day by day lfie, day by day dialog.
The 14-year thriller of US veteran Austin Tice’s kidnap in Syria
by Joe Mannion, Overseas Information Reporter
AT the peak of the Syrian civil battle, US Marine Corps veteran and award-winning journalist Austin Tice was kidnapped simply miles from the security of the Lebanese border.
Austin, then a legislation scholar, had spent the summer season within the war-torn nation documenting the horrors of Bashar Al-Assad’s brutal crackdown. Now, 14 years later, the destiny of the longest captive American journalist in historical past continues to puzzle investigators.
He vanished three days after his birthday, on August 13, 2012.
Austin had entered Syria in Might and travelled via rebel-held areas, freelancing for The Washington Submit and McClatchy.
Chilling paperwork recovered after the autumn of Assad’s regime reveal that he was being tracked all the way in which.
By August, he was on the brink of go away the Syrian capital, Damascus, and journey to Lebanon.
Whereas passing via a checkpoint close to Darayya, a southwestern suburb of the town, he vanished.
An enormous worldwide effort to safe his launch has adopted within the years since, however has led to way more questions than solutions.
For years, the identities of Austin’s captors remained one of many central unanswered questions.
The mysterious video launched by his captors appears to counsel that they have been Islamic militants, given the spiritual garb, mountainous geography, and repeated refrains of “Allahu Akbar”.
However US intelligence got here to consider that the video had been staged to throw them off the scent.
Analysts famous that the captors wore clothes paying homage to militants in Afghanistan reasonably than these working in Syria on the time.
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“We don’t attempt to not speak about it, as a result of he’s my children’ uncle, my brother.
“Mum has mentioned that when Austin comes again, she’s going to offer him a giant hug, after which a giant smack.
“It’s onerous to let your self give it some thought occurring. But it surely’s additionally onerous to let your self give it some thought not occurring – as a result of both approach is form of an emotional gap.”
Debra and Abigail informed The Solar they’ve made three requests they hope the federal government will take motion on sooner reasonably than later.
“We’re asking the director of nationwide intelligence Jay Clayton to fulfill for you [Debra] to fulfill in particular person to share with him how vital his function is to get Austin residence,” Abigail mentioned.
“We would like them to attach our household with Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and the lacking, which is like Israel’s equal for our particular presidential envoy for hostage affairs.
“We consider that Israel might actually assist, or they’ve quite a lot of data.
“After which, in all the present conversations about Iran, we wish Austin to be a part of these conversations. We would like them to convey him up.
“I feel sadly, quite a lot of it’s left as much as us, of looking for new routes, looking for new questions, making an attempt to hunt out individuals who would possibly know one thing.
“However I imply, my mother’s principally devoted her entire life since he’s been lacking to that, and I don’t see that stopping.”
A State Division spokesperson informed The Solar the US is “dedicated to clarifying the destiny and whereabouts of Austin Tice”.
They added: “This investigation is ongoing and we should not have additional particulars to make public right now.
“We stay dedicated to in search of decision for the households who’ve lengthy deserved solutions about their family members.”
