Hope for Freedom for Journalist Austin Tice in Syria

The mother of American journalist Austin Tice, Debra Tice, expresses optimism that the recent political upheavals in Syria could lead to her son's release. Austin Tice was captured in August 2012 during a reporting trip in Syria. A report on the release of Travis Timmerman, a Missouri resident, from a Syrian prison by rebels, sparked great hope in Debra Tice. Although Timmerman was mistakenly confused with Austin Tice on social media, she considers this news a joyful moment that should be shared. Timmerman stated that he was arrested for a spiritual visit during which he illegally crossed the Syrian border. The overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad by rebels led by the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has led to mass releases of prisoners in Damascus. However, some US officials fear that Austin Tice might have been killed in recent Israeli airstrikes. There are also concerns that he could be trapped in an underground prison without electricity, endangering air supply. Debra Tice expressed restraint over whether the US government should actively search for her son in Syria and showed gratitude for the efforts of journalists and civilians on the ground. Despite the challenges, she remains hopeful that one day it will indeed be her son who is released in freedom. Austin Tice worked as a freelance journalist for The Washington Post and McClatchy and was one of the first US journalists in Syria after the outbreak of the civil war. In a spectacular incident in 2013, he managed to escape from his cell in Damascus before wandering around the upscale Mazzeh neighborhood.