New information discovered in search for American missing in Syria
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Mother of US Reporter Missing in Syria Asks Putin for Help
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Above: Debra Tice, mother of Austin Tice, appears on "Meet the Press" in Washington D.C. on Dec. 15, 2024. Image copyright: William B. Plowman/Contributor/NBC via Getty Images
The Facts
The mother of Austin Tice — the US journalist who went missing in Syria more than a decade ago — on Wednesday sent Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin a letter asking him to help locate her son.
"The current situation in Syria compels us to ask for your help in finding Austin and safely reuniting our family," Debra Tice said. She added, "In this holiday season of peace and goodwill, we respectfully request your assistance in finding Austin and safely reuniting him with our family."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Since the fall of Assad's regime, US officials are doing all they can to locate Austin Tice. Top hostage negotiators are engaging with relevant stakeholders on the ground and multiple US agencies have offered large rewards for useful information.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Syrian government, prior to its collapse, repeatedly said that Austin Tice was never held by its authorities and that American assertions otherwise are fabrications. The country was overrun by numerous terrorist groups and militias. It's more likely that they're responsible for Tice's disappearance.
