Austin Tice’s mother voices newfound hope that Syria will release her son

The recent news of Missouri resident Travis Timmerman being freed from a Syrian prison by rebels has brought renewed hope to Debra Tice, the mother of American journalist Austin Tice. Austin Tice was taken captive during a reporting trip to Syria in August 2012 and has been missing ever since. Debra Tice expressed that the news of Timmerman’s release felt like a rehearsal, giving her a glimpse of what it might feel like when her son is finally free.

The upheaval in Syria following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad has raised hopes for Austin Tice’s freedom. Rebels, led by the militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have released thousands of people from prisons in Damascus where Assad held political opponents, ordinary civilians, and foreigners. However, there are concerns that Tice may have been killed during recent Israeli airstrikes or that he may have run out of breathable air if he was being held underground in a cell as Assad’s forces shut off electricity before fleeing.

Debra Tice remains optimistic and grateful for the efforts being made to locate her son. While some U.S. officials fear for Tice’s safety, Debra Tice appreciates the work of journalists and civilians on the ground, including Hostage Aid Worldwide, who are actively searching for Austin.

Austin Tice, a freelance reporter for the Washington Post and McClatchy, was one of the first U.S. journalists to enter Syria after the civil war began. In 2012, he was captured during fighting in Aleppo and a video surfaced showing him blindfolded and led by armed men. Despite his disappearance, there have been reports that Tice managed to escape his cell in 2013 and was seen moving between houses in Damascus.

Debra Tice’s unwavering hope and determination to find her son serve as a beacon of resilience in the face of uncertainty. As the search for Austin Tice continues, the world remains hopeful that he will soon be reunited with his family.