The mother of American journalist Austin Tice, Debra Tice, expressed hope on Sunday that her son’s freedom is within reach, citing news of Travis Timmerman’s release from a Syrian prison. A week ago, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was ousted after 13 years of civil war, and thousands of people were released from prisons in Damascus.
Debra Tice said she felt a sense of hope when images of Missouri resident Travis Timmerman circulated on social media, despite being misidentified as her son. Her son has been missing since August 2012, when he was taken captive during a reporting trip to Syria.
U.S. officials are concerned about Tice’s safety amid Israeli airstrikes and power cuts in Syrian prisons. The U.S. government is cautious about searching for Tice on the ground in Syria, with Debra Tice expressing gratitude for efforts by journalists and civilians on the ground searching for him.
Tice, a former Marine and freelance reporter for the Washington Post and McClatchy, was one of the first U.S. journalists to enter Syria after the civil war began. He was captured during fighting in Aleppo and held captive until his video was released online.
Recently, it was reported that Tice managed to slip out of his cell and was seen moving between houses in Damascus’ upscale Mazzeh neighborhood. Debra Tice believes this is a sign that her son’s freedom may be near.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/austin-tices-mother-sees-hope-his-release-syria-frees-another-american-2024-12-15