Mother Returns to Syria After Decade-Long Search for Missing Journalist Son

DAMASCUS, Syria – Debra Tice returned to Damascus this week for the first time in nearly a decade, reigniting her search for her son, Austin Tice, a journalist and Marine veteran who disappeared in Syria in 2012. The fall of the Assad regime has provided new hope for the Tice family, who believe the political shift could finally lead to answers about Austin’s whereabouts.

Austin Tice, then 31, was kidnapped in August 2012 while reporting on the Syrian civil war. A video released shortly after his disappearance showed him blindfolded and reciting Islamic prayers, though experts have questioned its authenticity, suggesting it may have been staged to implicate Islamist rebels rather than the Syrian government. The Tice family has long believed Austin was held by the Assad regime, which stopped issuing Debra visas in 2015 as she sought to locate her son.

With the regime’s collapse in December 2024, Debra Tice and a team from Hostage Aid Worldwide (HAW), led by former hostage Nizar Zakka, have been combing through abandoned security facilities, military intelligence offices, and even the home of former Syrian air force intelligence chief Jamil Hassan. “We invade these security branches,” Zakka said. “We’re looking for documents, hard drives, anything with Austin’s name on it.”

Despite their efforts, no concrete evidence has been found. Zakka theorizes that Austin may be held in a safe house by a high-ranking regime figure seeking leverage for their own escape. “We have leads, but nothing concrete,” he admitted.

Debra Tice, who met with Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, expressed cautious optimism. “Today is a new day for us,” she said at a press conference. “It’s like starting over again.” She also revealed that the Trump administration has reached out regarding Austin’s case, a development she called a “breath of fresh air.”

The Tice family’s search mirrors the struggles of countless Syrian families seeking answers about loved ones forcibly disappeared under Assad’s rule. Over 100,000 people remain missing, and key documents in abandoned prisons are at risk of being lost to looting and neglect. Bayan Rehan of Families for Freedom emphasized the urgency of securing these facilities: “The priority is to close all security centers and ensure documents are returned.”

The United Nations established an Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria in 2023, but funding shortages have delayed its deployment. Meanwhile, Debra Tice remains steadfast in her faith and determination. “Austin, if you can hear this, I love you,” she said. “I know you’re not giving up, and neither am I.”

The State Department’s Reward for Justice program is offering $10 million for information leading to Austin’s location. A spokesperson confirmed that U.S. officials are working to enter Damascus to assist in the search, pending safety assurances.