Biden says the US believes journalist Austin Tice is alive after disappearing in Syria in 2012

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden stated Sunday that the U.S. authorities believes lacking American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years in the past close to the Syrian capital, is alive and that Washington is dedicated to bringing him residence after Bashar Assad’s ouster from power in Damascus.

“We expect we will get him again,” Biden informed reporters on the White Home, whereas acknowledging that “we’ve no direct proof” of his standing. “Assad must be held accountable.”

Biden stated officers should nonetheless establish precisely the place Tice is after his disappearance in August 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested space west of Damascus.

“We have remained dedicated to returning him to his household,” he stated.

Tice, who’s from Houston and whose work had been revealed by The Washington Submit, McClatchy newspapers and different retailers.

A video launched weeks after Tice went lacking confirmed him blindfolded and held by armed males and saying, “Oh, Jesus.” He has not been heard from since. Syria has publicly denied that it was holding him.

The USA has no new proof that Tice is alive, however continues to function underneath the idea he’s alive, in keeping with a U.S. official. The official, who was not approved to remark publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity, stated the U.S. will proceed to work to establish the place he’s and to attempt to convey him residence.

His mom, Debra, stated at a information convention Friday in Washington that the household had info from a “vital supply,” whom she didn’t establish, establishing that her son was alive.

“He’s being cared for and he’s nicely — we do know that,” she stated.

The Tice household met this previous week with officers on the State Division and the White Home.

“To everybody in Syria that hears this, please remind people who we’re ready for Austin,” Debra Tice stated in feedback that hostage advocacy teams unfold on social media Sunday. “We all know that when he comes out, he’s going to be pretty dazed & he’s going to want a lot of care & path. Direct him to his household please!”