US group looks for kidnapped Americans in Syria after fall of Assad regime

The Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), a U.S. nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., has deployed a team to Syria in search of kidnapped Americans following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The team, led by executive director Mouaz Moustafa, is on a mission to locate American freelance journalist Austin Tice and Syrian American psychotherapist Dr. Majd Kamalmaz, who were both taken captive by the Assad regime.

Tice, who disappeared in 2012 while reporting in Daraya, has not been seen or heard from since. Similarly, Kamalmaz was detained at a checkpoint in Damascus in 2017, and U.S. officials believe he died in Syria’s prison system. Moustafa and his team are determined to find these missing individuals and bring them home.

With new geolocations and information from sources, the SETF team is actively searching specific locations in Damascus to locate Tice. Moustafa commended Tice for his courage in reporting on the Syrian civil war and vowed to leave no stone unturned in the search for him. The State Department has also offered a reward for information on Tice, emphasizing the importance of his safe return.

The team’s efforts have been met with challenges, as the Assad regime has been uncooperative in providing information on the whereabouts of the missing Americans. However, Moustafa remains determined to find Tice and Kamalmaz, believing it is the duty of every Syrian to help bring them home.

The SETF’s mission in Syria underscores the organization’s commitment to humanitarian efforts and the safe return of kidnapped individuals. As they navigate the complex landscape of post-Assad Syria, Moustafa and his team remain hopeful that their efforts will lead to the reunification of Tice and Kamalmaz with their families.