**Mother of Missing US Journalist Returns to Syria to Search for Son**

Debra Tice's renewed efforts to find her son come after significant political shifts in Syria, predominantly the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Debra Tice, mother of Austin Tice—an American journalist abducted in Syria in 2012—has returned to Syria for the first time in ten years to reinvigorate her search for her son. This visit comes following the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime amid a rapid rebel offensive. Austin Tice, who is now 43, was kidnapped while covering the Syrian civil war in the Damascus suburb of Darayya.

"The situation has changed drastically, and we now find ourselves back at square one," Debra Tice stated in an interview, expressing the uncertainty surrounding her son's fate. The last footage of Tice, which surfaced shortly after his capture, showed him blindfolded and distressed, yet the identity of his captors remains unverified. Over the years, US officials have maintained that Tice is likely being held by the Assad regime or loyal forces, although no direct claims have been made regarding his abduction.

Recent developments have fueled hopes for Tice's safety—President Joe Biden mentioned that US intelligence believes he is still alive, even as the exact location remains unknown. With the regime's downfall, rebels—including the Islamist group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—have liberated several prisoners, which may provide new leads on the status of Tice and others who were forcibly disappeared.

During her visit, Debra Tice had a significant meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the current de facto leader in Syria, who promised a commitment to addressing the atrocities committed under Assad. Debra expressed her determination, stating, “I've never had a moment of doubt... I always knew that [Tice] is going to walk free."

Reflecting on the past decade, she emphasized the emotional journey for families like hers who are still waiting for news of their loved ones. “I want to be one of the moms, one of the families that finds my loved one and throws my arms around him and takes them home,” she expressed with hope. Observing a more relaxed atmosphere in Syria compared to previous visits, Debra noted that children now seem happier, and she feels the urgency to foster connections to understand better the plight of families still searching for their missing members.

In a country marked by turmoil, Debra Tice’s visit symbolizes a broader struggle for truth, accountability, and the reunion of families shattered by conflict. The international community continues to watch closely as this evolving situation may yield new paths toward understanding the fates of the missing, including Austin Tice.