Syria rescue-mission operator believes Austin Tice is alive and will be found soon
A glimmer of hope has emerged in the case of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012. Bryan Stern, a hostage rescue operator with Grey Bull Rescue, recently shared his belief with Fox News Digital that Tice is alive and could potentially be found soon.
Stern, who has led high-risk rescue missions in various parts of the world, including Syria, expressed confidence in the intelligence he has received regarding Tice’s status. He stated, “I would bet that he is alive, or at least was as of two weeks ago. I would bet that he’s being cared for and tended to. I further submit that he’s findable.”
Despite the challenges of locating Tice in war-torn Syria, Stern remains determined to bring him home. He emphasized that Grey Bull Rescue does not give up on finding individuals, especially when there is reason to believe they are still alive. Stern’s team has been tirelessly searching through prisons and neighborhoods in Syria in hopes of locating the missing journalist.
The recent ousting of Bashar al-Assad and the takeover of Syria by HTS have provided a renewed sense of hope for Tice’s family and the Biden administration. Stern believes that Tice may be detained in a home in a neighborhood, potentially being looked after by Assad-friendly Alawites. He dismissed the notion that Tice could have died years ago, citing the lack of evidence to support such a claim.
While the search for Tice continues, the Grey Bull team remains hopeful that he will be found. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice office is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to Tice’s discovery, but Stern believes that tribal loyalty and fear of retribution from Assad may be hindering potential informants from coming forward.
In a recent press conference, Nizar Zakka, president of Hostage Aid Worldwide, also expressed confidence in Tice’s survival. Zakka shared that they have data indicating Tice was alive as of January 2024 and emphasized their commitment to transparency in the search efforts.
As the hunt for Austin Tice continues, the collective efforts of Grey Bull Rescue, Hostage Aid Worldwide, Tice’s family, and U.S. authorities offer a glimmer of hope in the ongoing quest to bring the missing journalist home. The Biden administration has echoed this message of hope, signaling a continued commitment to finding Tice and ensuring his safe return.
