Statements from the White House or U.S. government agencies

Putin to Ask Assad About Missing U.S. Journalist Austin Tice After Mother's Appeal, As White House Seeks Leads

Dec 19, 2024, 10:34 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he plans to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has arrived in Moscow, to discuss the fate of missing American journalist Austin Tice. Tice, a former U.S. Marine and freelance journalist, was abducted during a reporting trip in Syria in 2012 and is one of the longest-held American hostages abroad. Putin's statement follows an appeal from Tice's mother, Debra Tice, who sent a letter to Putin requesting his assistance in finding her son, citing his influence with the Syrian government. Additionally, reports indicate that the White House provided Syrian rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham with a list of former Assad regime officials who might have knowledge about Tice's whereabouts.