Disappeared in Syria in 2012. US ready to pay $1 million for information about journalist Austin Tice

The offer to pay $1 million for information that will help return American journalist Austin Tice from captivity in Syria remains relevant.

This was stated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as CNN writes.

It is emphasized that, in view of the events in Syria, the FBI again calls for providing information that will help locate, find and return Austin Bennett Tice — journalist detained in Damascus in August 2012.

Incumbent US President Joe Biden mentioned Tice in his speech on December 8 regarding the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

«We believe he is alive. We believe we can bring him back, although we have no direct evidence of that yet, — Joe Biden said.

In August 2022, Biden said he hoped for the cooperation of the Syrian authorities in returning the journalist to the United States.

Austin Tice has reported on Syria for several American publications, including The Washington Post. The freelance journalist was captured on August 14, 2012, at a checkpoint near Damascus.

A little more than a month after his disappearance, the reporter's family was sent a 43-second video of Tice and a group of gunmen under the caption ««Austin Tice is alive».

American authorities believe Tice is being held by the Syrian government and are continuing to try to negotiate his return to the homeland. Austin Tice's family said they have not received any additional information about who is responsible for his capture since the video was sent to them.

In April 2018, the FBI offered a reward of $1 million for information leading to the whereabouts of Austin Tice.

A website dedicated to the search for the reporter keeps a count of the days spent by the family of the missing in ignorance. At this point it 4 500 days.