American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria in 2012, is alive, according to his family. Tice went missing while reporting on the civil war and a video showing him being held at gunpoint surfaced shortly after. The U.S. government doubted the video’s authenticity and suggested he was being held by the Syrian government. With President Bashar al-Assad’s regime now toppled, Tice’s family has renewed hope that he may finally return home. His siblings, Meagan Tice Malone and Simon Robert Tice, shared that they have reliable information about his status but could not disclose details. They described their brother as a compassionate man who felt a duty to report on the war in Syria. President Joe Biden expressed hope for Tice’s return, although there is no direct evidence yet. U.S. Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens is in Lebanon as part of efforts to bring Tice home, and the government is reaching out to anyone in Syria who can help. The Tice siblings are hopeful for a reunion and are appealing for the right people to bring him home. The transitional government in Syria has also prioritized investigating the whereabouts of those who disappeared under Assad’s regime. The family is optimistic about the possibility of Tice’s return, which would fill a void in their lives and allow them to live more fully.
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