Debra Tice spent more than 12 years searching for her son, Austin Ticea Marine Corps veteran and journalist who was kidnapped in Syria in August 2012. Through four presidential administrations, she never lost hope that her son would come home alive. In fact, she calls the new Trump administration “a breath of fresh air.”
“They think about what they need to do, they make suggestions, they stand ready, they have ideas. The burden is not on me like in the past,” Tees told Fox News Digital, referring to the Trump administration.
A Marine Veteran’s Mom’s First Trip Damascus, Syria, in more than 10 years it comes on the heels of a revolution within the war-torn country. Debra Tice has only been in Syria for a few days, but she has already managed to meet with the country’s de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaawho led the group that overthrew Bashar al-Assad.
“It was really quite a surprise that we were able to get a meeting with al-Shara. It was a very good meeting,” Tice said.
Syria Rescue Mission Operator BELIEVES AUSTIN TISS IS ALIVE AND WILL BE FOUND SOON
In this photo released by the Syrian state news agency SANA, Syria’s de facto leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, right, meets with Debra Tice, the mother of American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria in 2012, left, and Nizar Zakka, the chief nonprofit organization for hostage relief around the world, center, in Damascus, Syria, Monday, January 20, 2025 (SANA via AP)
Help hostages around the worldthe non-profit organization coordinating Tice’s visit to Syria, was able to take her to some of the prisons that have been abandoned since the fall of Assad. She said seeing the conditions in these prisons is “really challenging” but she appreciates getting a sense of “what Austin is up against.”
Tice also issued a challenge to those in the US government who “feel Austin can wait” to go see the prisons for themselves.
“I think they had to come here — and I wouldn’t ask them to spend the night in one of those jails — but I think if they went to see what he might have been through, he might be more motivated to get Austin out of there.”
Debra Tice, the mother of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice who disappeared while reporting in Syria in August 2012, attends a press conference as she called on President Donald Trump to help discover the fate of her son in Damascus, Syria, on January 20, 2025. (Bekir Kasim/Anadolu via Getty Images)
During a press conference Theiss praised the incoming Trump administration on Monday and confirmed that they have “already reached out” regarding Austin’s case.
“I haven’t experienced that in the past four years, but I am optimistic about their help and commitment. I believe they will respond quickly,” Tice said.
Tice also used the press conference to send an emotional message to her missing son.
“Austin, if you can somehow hear this, I love you. I know you’re not going to give up and I’m not going to give up either,” Tice said.
Tice says she “never doubted the fact that Austin would walk free.” It is a matter of time, and according to my faith, it is God’s moment.
Speaking about her hope and optimism to find her son, Tice credited her faith “one hundred percent.” She added that, “if I didn’t have my faith, I just think I would have crumbled into a bunch of really little pieces.”
THE COLLAPSE OF SYRIA’S Assad REGIME RENEWS OUR QUARRY TO FIND AUSTIN THAISE
The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering $10 million for information related to the location of Austin Tice. 9/12/2024 (State Department of Justice Award)
A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that “intense efforts to locate Austin Tice are still underway.” In addition, the spokesman said the department was “working to bring U.S. officials to Damascus” to assist in the search, but was awaiting confirmation that “conditions are safe and local authorities can accommodate the visit.”
“We used relevant information, as well as declassified intelligence, to inform the search efforts of Syrian and international partners on the ground in Damascus who are searching for Austin every day,” the spokesman added.
“They have visited and searched a number of now-discovered secret prisons, but to date have not found Austin or any additional information to help us locate him.”
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Last month, after receiving a letter from Debra Tyce, the Russian president Vladimir Putin promised to ask Assad for help in finding Austin. However, so far there are no signs of that happening.
