Missing US journalist Austin Tice allegedly found alive in Syria after 12 years

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A viral video has sparked claims an American journalist captured 12 years ago in Syria has been found alive. Austin Tice was 31 when he was taken captive in 2012 while reporting on the Syrian civil war, meaning he may have spent over a decade in the prisons of dictator Bashar al-Assad.

Now, following the storming of Damascus by rebels and the subsequent flight of the despot, a video purporting to show a man bearing a resemblance to Mr Tice is being widely shared online. However the Mirror reports no official sources have yet confirmed its authenticity.

This development comes after his family expressed being "incredibly hopeful" for his safe return home in the wake of Assad's regime collapse, as the leader's prisons are emptied and alleged instances of torture and war crimes are exposed. Despite the widespread sharing of the footage, it has not been officially confirmed as the missing journalist, and some remain sceptical about its veracity.

CNN Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward retweeted a copy of the video, which claimed to show an "American journalist" found by Syrian locals "disoriented and barefoot", stating: "This is 100% not Austin Tice. I have no idea who it is but it is not Austin."

In a conversation with Sky News' Yalda Hakim this week, Austin's brother Jacob said: "We know that every effort is being extended right now to search for him throughout Syria, throughout Damascus. We know that there are people on the ground who love Austin."

"There are people who are committed to his return, and they are working tirelessly right now to bring him home. That gives us tremendous hope, tremendous optimism. And again, we implore anybody there who is listening, anybody who hears this to help bring Austin back to us, to help reunite him with his family."

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Over the weekend, President Joe Biden stated the US government believes Austin Tice, the missing journalist, is still alive and assured efforts are being made to bring him home. Speaking to the press at the White House, Biden mentioned: "We think we can get him back" while also admitting "we have no direct evidence" of his current status.

Austin, originating from Houston, Texas, built a career in freelance journalism with his work featured in outlets including The Washington Post.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed on Tuesday: "We do continue to believe that he is alive and we continue to make clear in all of our conversations either with entities on the ground in Syria or with entities that may be in communication with those on the ground in Syria, that we have no higher priority than the safe return of Austin Tice to his family."

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