President Biden stated Sunday he believes an American journalist lacking in Syria since 2012 is alive, and vowed to carry him again within the wake of the autumn of President Bashar Assad’s regime.
“We believe he’s alive,” Biden advised reporters on the White Home about Austin Tice, who vanished 12 years in the past in Damascus. “We think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet.”
Biden stated the U.S. authorities had all People in Syria prime of thoughts.
“We remain committed to returning him to his family,” he stated.
As Assad’s rule crumbled, Tice’s household on Friday stated they have been assured that Tice was nonetheless alive, attributing that to a “significant source” they didn’t reveal.
“He is being cared for and he is well — we do know that,” Debra Tice stated.
Weeks later a video surfaced that confirmed him blindfolded and held by armed males as he muttered, “Oh Jesus.”
AP
On this picture taken from undated video, American freelance journalist Austin Tice, who had been reporting for American information organizations in Syria till his disappearance in August 2012, is seen blindfolded within the presence of gunmen. (AP Photograph)
Whereas the U.S. authorities has lengthy believed Tice was being held by forces aligned with the Syrian authorities, Assad had insisted they didn’t have him.
Tice’s household has labored tirelessly for his launch. U.S. State Division officers have lengthy believed that Tice is alive.
Biden made his assertion hours after Assad fled the nation on Sunday, ending his 14-year try and retain energy, and shutting out a 50-year dynasty. He was granted asylum in Russia after being ousted by the rebels who had lengthy sought to wrest management from the dictator.
Practically half 1,000,000 folks have died within the struggle, and half the prewar inhabitants of 23 million folks has been displaced.
Initially Revealed: December 8, 2024 at 11:19 PM EST
