“Family of Austin Tice Reveals Shocking News: Journalist Still Alive After 12 Years Missing in…

American journalist Austin Tice, who went missing over a decade ago in Syria, is still alive, according to his family. Tice disappeared in 2012 after reporting on the Syrian civil war, just days after celebrating his 31st birthday. A video surfaced soon after showing him being held at gunpoint by masked men, but the U.S. government questioned its authenticity, suggesting it may have been staged.

The U.S. State Department had initially claimed that Tice was being held by the Syrian government, a statement which the regime under former President Bashar al-Assad firmly denied.

Now that Assad’s regime has fallen, Tice’s family is hopeful he might finally return home. His siblings, Meagan Tice Malone and Simon Robert Tice, shared with MSNBC that they have received reliable and verified information confirming their brother’s survival, although they couldn’t disclose the source of this information.

Malone emphasized that multiple branches of the U.S. government have verified this news, aligning with statements from President Biden. The siblings described Austin Tice, a former Marine, as a dedicated and compassionate man who felt compelled to report on the war in Syria.

Simon Robert, who was just 19 years old when Austin disappeared, expressed unwavering faith in the American government’s efforts to bring his brother home. “As long as he’s not home, there’s always more to be done,” he said.

President Biden spoke publicly about Tice’s case, expressing hope for his return but noting there’s still no direct evidence of his current whereabouts. Meanwhile, U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens is in Beirut, Lebanon, working to negotiate Tice’s release, with efforts focused on reaching out to potential intermediaries in Syria.

John Kirby, a White House national security spokesperson, confirmed that the U.S. government still believes Tice is alive and continues to seek more information about his condition and location.

Hadi al-Bahra, head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, stated that investigating the fates of missing persons under the Assad regime is a priority for Syria’s transitional government.

The Tice family remains hopeful that Austin will be reunited with them soon, urging anyone in a position of authority to help bring him home. “We appeal to those who have the power to reunite our family and do the right thing,” Malone said.