Family of US journalist held captive in Syria for 12 years 'incredibly hopeful' of return in wake of Assad's fall

The household of a US writer held captive successful Syria for the past 12 years accidental they are "incredibly hopeful" that helium tin beryllium returned safely to them amid the "chaos" pursuing the autumn of Bashar al Assad's regime.

Austin Tice is thought to person been captured adjacent to Damascus successful August 2012 portion covering the Syrian civilian war.

The freelance writer was 31 years aged astatine the time.

His member and sister told The World with Yalda Hakim connected Sky News determination had been a "hole successful the family" ever since, but they had ne'er fixed up anticipation of his return.

Now, with the fall of the Assad regime successful the aftermath of a rebel uprising successful Syria, Mr Tice's household hopes the 43-year-old tin yet beryllium freed.

His sister, Abigail Edaburn, said the household person besides precocious received impervious of beingness from trusted sources, portion US President Joe Biden besides precocious said his medication believed Mr Tice was inactive alive.

Speaking to Yalda Hakim, the journalist's member Jacob Tice said: "We cognize that each effort is being extended close present to hunt for him passim Syria, passim Damascus.

"We cognize that determination are radical connected the crushed who emotion Austin. There are radical who are committed to his return, and they are moving tirelessly close present to bring him home.

"That gives america tremendous hope, tremendous optimism. And again, we implore anybody determination who is listening, anybody who hears this to assistance bring Austin backmost to us, to assistance reunite him with his family."

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The household said they were unneurotic connected a household vacation erstwhile Mr Tice stopped responding to messages and they realised helium had apt been captured.

"There is simply a spread successful our household that has been contiguous for 12 years astatine each Christmas, for each graduation, for each of our weddings, for the commencement of my sister's children, whom helium has ne'er met, each prevention one," Jacob said.

"It is hard to picture however that feels when, arsenic we gather, to cognize that helium is not seated astatine our table. And determination is thing we privation much arsenic a household than to person that spread filled and to spot him backmost with america and person him instrumentality his spot astatine our table."

Abigail was asked if the household had watched the rebel uprising and autumn of the Assad authorities with a consciousness of anxiousness astir her brother.

She said: "It has been anxious, but it's besides been incredibly hopeful due to the fact that we person seen these families being reunited.

"We've seen truthful galore families being made whole. And truthful we are incredibly hopeful that successful this moment, that's besides what's going to beryllium happening with our household arsenic well."

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However, Jacob said that the household had not fixed up anticipation implicit the past 12 years.

"We person believed each time that Austin volition beryllium released. We person been assured each time that the clip of his merchandise is coming and that we would beryllium reunited with him," Jacob said.

"In this singular infinitesimal successful Syrian history, I deliberation the tenor astir that anticipation has changed. I deliberation the urgency for america arsenic a household has accrued due to the fact that we cognize that successful chaos determination are opportunities for change, determination are options to reset the presumption quo and to alteration the mode that things person been.

"But successful presumption of the erstwhile 12 years, yes, we person ever believed each time that we volition beryllium reunited with our brother."

On Sunday, the FBI said successful a connection that a $1m (£782,000) reward was inactive connected connection for accusation starring to Mr Tice's "safe location, betterment and return".

Speaking astatine the White House connected Sunday, President Biden said his medication believed Mr Tice was inactive alive, but that they were trying to pinpoint his determination successful a state trying to find stableness aft the accelerated autumn of the Assad dynasty.