In brief
Debra Tice met with Ahmed al-Shara, leader of the group that recently overthrew Bashar al-Assad, expressing her hope for assistance in locating her missing son and others taken during the regime's rule.
In a heartfelt plea, Debra Tice addressed the uncertainty of her son's captivity while urging new Syrian leaders to prioritize the search for missing individuals.---Debra Tice, the mother of Austin Tice, an American journalist who went missing in Syria as he reported on the ongoing civil conflict in 2012, recently met with Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Shara. This historic meeting took place on Monday in Damascus, following the overthrow of the Assad regime by al-Shara's group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which has sparked hopes among families of missing persons. "A page will be turned," Ms. Tice exclaimed, expressing optimism in the renewed search for her son amidst the decade-long turmoil that has plagued Syria.During a news conference that followed her meeting with al-Shara, Ms. Tice conveyed her interaction with the new regime while noting that there was no new information regarding Austin’s whereabouts. However, she felt a sense of hope as she learned about the commitment of the new leadership to assist families affected by the previous regime's actions. "They are dedicated and determined to bring home my son and your sons," she stated, addressing other Syrian families who continue to ache with the absence of their loved ones.Ms. Tice had recently arrived in Damascus and reflected on the lost years in her search for Austin, who she believes to still be held captive. She acknowledged the complications that have arisen since the change in leadership; "It’s like starting all over again," she remarked. The tumult of recent events has made it increasingly difficult to locate those missing or unaccounted for from the Assad era, marking yet another chapter in the protracted crisis that has descended upon Syria.
