Russian President Vladimir Putin The United States on Thursday promised to seek help from former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in locating veteran American journalist Austin Tice following a letter from Tice's mother asking for help.
Putin told NBC during a press conference, according to what the translator said: “I have not seen President Assad yet, since he came to Moscow, but I plan to do so. I will have a conversation with him.” On the former president's ability to help. “We are adults, and we understand – 12 years ago, Missing person in Syria12 years ago.
The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria renews US efforts to find Austin Tice
Freelance journalist Austin Tice disappeared in Syria in 2012 and has not been heard from since. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
He added: “We understand what the situation was like, and 12 years ago hostilities were continuing on both sides. Does President al-Assad himself know what happened to that American citizen, the journalist who performed his journalistic duty in the combat zone?” He asked before shrugging.
“However, I promise that I will ask him this question,” he added.
Putin's comments came after Debra Tice on Wednesday appealed to the head of the Kremlin in a letter for help finding her son, who went missing after his arrest in Damascus in August 2012.
The Syrian government has refused for more than a decade to negotiate the release of Tice, who was kidnapped while covering the uprising against the Assad regime during the early stages of the Syrian civil war, which ultimately ended earlier this month after the Syrian president was ousted. He fled to Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual telethon and press conference on December 19, 2024 in Moscow. (Contributor/Getty Images)
“the The current situation in Syria It forces us to ask for your help in finding Austin and reuniting our family safely. “You have deep connections with the Syrian government, which could be a major asset to our ongoing efforts to find Austin,” she wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News. “In this holiday season of peace and goodwill, we respectfully ask for your help in finding Austin and reuniting him safely with our family.
She added: “We would of course be willing to travel to Moscow or anywhere else on Earth to put our arms around dear Austin and bring him home safely.”
In an interview with NBC News, Debra defended her decision to write to the authoritarian leader, one of the United States' biggest adversaries, and said: “Of course I am reaching out to powerful people, so they can help us.”
She stressed, “Russia has had a port there in Latakia forever, so I think they have the ability to know what is going on on the ground. We are still trying to find out where it is.”
The State Department is offering $10 million for information related to locating Austin Tice. (State Department Reward for Justice)
The State Department intensified its efforts to find Tice after the fall of the Assad regime, including offering a $10 million reward for information related to his release.
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“We have spread out everywhere with every potential source, every potential actor that might be able to get information,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday in his interview with MSNBC's “Morning Joe,” in a text sent by the State Department. “This includes anyone and everyone who has some relationship with the various emerging authorities in Syria. We have been in direct contact with them ourselves. We have other partners on the ground, and we are looking forward to getting on the ground ourselves as quickly as possible.” As much as we can.
Blinken continued: “But the most important thing is: Any information we get, or any evidence we have, we follow. We have ways to do that regardless of exactly where we are.” “And I can just tell you that this is the number one priority…to get Austin.”
