The mother of the missing American journalist renews the search in Syria

The mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in Syria while on a reporting trip in 2012 and one of the longest-held American hostages, has returned to the country for the first time in a decade to renew the search for her son.

Debra Tice's visit comes in the wake of the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in a lightning attack launched by the rebels last month. Her son, a freelance journalist now 43, was captured while traveling through the Damascus suburb of Daraya to cover the Syrian civil war.

She said in an interview in the Syrian capital, Damascus: “We had information, but the whole world has changed,” referring to Assad’s removal from power.

“We have no idea where he is now. It's like square one, trying to figure it out again.”

Tice was last seen in a video posted online weeks after his arrest, blindfolded and in apparent distress. No government or group has claimed responsibility for his disappearance, although American officials have said over the years that they believe Tice is being held by the Assad government.

According to recent reports in the US media, investigators believe that Tice, a former US Marine, briefly escaped weeks after his arrest but was captured by forces that were directly subordinate to Assad.

Last month, after rebels led by the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham ousted Assad and seized power, President Joe Biden said the United States believed Tice was alive, but his whereabouts remained unknown. The rebels opened Syrian prisons, releasing thousands of people and giving experts access to documents that could shed light on what happened to Tice and other disappeared people.

“I never had a moment of doubt,” she said. “I always knew (Tice) would be released. And, you know, we have a whole new way of thinking about how this could happen.” “I can't wait to have my arms around him.”

On Sunday, Debra Tice — who said she wore a “Free Austin Tice” badge even at home — met with Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s de facto leader, who pledged to hold accountable those responsible for the most serious crimes during the Assad regime. .

She expressed her hope that families would continue to have access to facilities where prisoners are held “to allow people to search and maintain hope.”

“I am here to be with people who understand longing, to be able to celebrate with people who have been reunited, and also to hold the hearts of those of us who are still searching and waiting and wishing and hoping and praying.”

She last visited Syria in 2015, when the country's authorities stopped issuing visas to her. She added that “people are now more relaxed” and “the children have smiles on their faces.”

“I want to be one of the mothers, one of the families who finds someone they love, holds them in my arms and takes them home,” she said.