Biden demands Austin Tice’s ‘immediate release’ from Syria on 12-year anniversary of disappearance

President Biden on Wednesday called for the Syrian government to “immediately” release journalist Austin Tice, marking the 12-year anniversary of the former Marine’s disappearance from a checkpoint outside Damascus. 

In a statement, Biden said his administration has repeatedly pressed the government in Syria to release Tice from captivity, despite Syrian officials’ denial of the American’s whereabouts. 

“This week marks 12 long, terrible years since American Austin Tice was abducted in Syria,” Biden said in a statement. 

“We have repeatedly pressed the government of Syria to work with us so that we can, at last, bring Austin home. Today, I once again call for his immediate release.”

Tice disappeared in August 2012 while covering the Syrian civil war as a freelance journalist for McClatchy, The Washington Post, Agence France-Presse and CBS, among other publications. He is an award-winning journalist as well as a veteran captain in the Marines and graduate of Georgetown University. 

The FBI has a $1 million reward for information related to the “safe location, recovery, and return,” of Tice. In 2022, Biden said the U.S. knows “with certainty” that Tice was being held by the Syrian government. 

“The freedom of the press is essential, and journalists like Austin play a critical role informing the public and holding those in power accountable,” the president said in his statement Wednesday.

“We stand in solidarity with Austin, his family, and all Americans wrongfully detained and held hostage abroad. I will continue to do everything possible to advocate for and pursue his release and support his loved ones until he is safely returned home.”

In April, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad reportedly said he had participated in some meetings with U.S. officials, but did not provide details about who attended the meetings or what was discussed.

The U.S. cut ties with Assad’s government in 2011 amid the outbreak of civil war in the country and has since provided some support to the opposition, but has maintained a military presence in eastern Syria as part of ongoing efforts to counter the resurgence of the Islamic State terrorist group. 

Assad, in an interview published by the official state news agency Sana, said the meetings did not lead to anything, but when asked about the possibility of mending ties with the West, he added, “There is always hope: Even when we know there will be no results, we must try.”

The Syrian foreign ministry has denied holding Americans, including Tice, and his captivity has endured over the course of the Obama administration, the Trump administration and now the Biden administration. 

Last week, Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) led a bipartisan group of colleagues in a letter to Biden calling for the “full and active support of our government to secure his release” and to update Congress on any progress in efforts to secure Tice’s freedom. 

“As a beloved son, brother, Eagle Scout, journalist, and veteran, Austin represents the best our nation has to offer, and we are committed to working with you to return him to his loving family,” the senators wrote. 

“As an American and a veteran, Austin deserves the full and active support of our government to secure his release. We also encourage your administration to utilize all available means to further discourage the hostage taking of American citizens.”

The anniversary of Tice’s disappearance comes as Biden succeeded earlier this month in returning three Americans and a green card holder from being unjustly detained in Russia in a historic prisoner exchange. The deal took years to craft and required the buy-in and cooperation from the governments of Germany, Norway, Slovenia and others.