Tue Dec 10 09:07:44 UTC 2024: ## US Negotiator in Beirut Seeking Information on Missing Journalist Austin Tice
**Washington/Beirut –** The U.S. government is stepping up its efforts to locate Austin Tice, an American journalist missing in Syria for 12 years. Roger Carstens, the special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, is currently in Beirut gathering information on Tice’s whereabouts, the State Department announced Monday.
Tice, whose work has appeared in publications such as The Washington Post and McClatchy newspapers, disappeared near Damascus in 2012 during the Syrian civil war. A video released shortly after his disappearance showed him blindfolded and held captive. While Syria denies holding him, President Biden stated Sunday that the administration believes Tice is still alive and is committed to securing his release, although acknowledging a lack of direct evidence.
Carstens’ trip to Beirut follows the recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government and aims to leverage connections in the region to find Tice and bring him home. Lebanon has been involved in mediating discussions regarding Tice’s case for years. Tice’s parents, Marc and Debra Tice, continue to advocate for their son’s return.
First Piper 