Hope Amidst Darkness: The Search for Austin Tice

As the holiday season approaches, a rare glimmer of hope has emerged from Syria regarding the fate of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice. Bryan Stern, a hostage rescue operator with Grey Bull Rescue, recently shared his insights with Fox News Digital, expressing a strong belief that Tice is still alive.

Strong Beliefs in Austin Tice’s Survival

Though Stern remains tight-lipped about sensitive intelligence, he asserts that he has credible information indicating that the 43-year-old Marine veteran and reporter, who was kidnapped in Syria in 2012, is alive, or at least was recently. “I would say 100%, I would bet that he is alive, or at least was as of two weeks ago,” he stated from a hotel room in Syria.

Stern emphasizes, “I would bet that he’s being cared for and tended to. I further submit that he’s findable. We don’t recover dead bodies.” The commitment to finding Tice runs deeply for Stern, who has dedicated himself to rescue efforts even as he approaches another holiday away from his family.

Rescue Expertise in Hostile Territories

Stern leads high-stakes rescue missions in some of the world’s most perilous environments, including regions such as Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, and Haiti. “We have done 12 jailbreaks from Russia,” Stern remarked, adding that these efforts have exceeded the CIA’s capabilities.

Shifting Dynamics in Syria

The recent ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime has reinvigorated the Biden administration and Tice’s family with hope that he may still be located. The new ruling force, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), while not obstructing efforts to find Tice, is allegedly more focused on establishing governance than facilitating rescue operations. “The mood in Syria is cautiously happy after decades of brutal oppression,” Stern noted.

He suggested that Tice could be detained in a residential area, cared for by Alawites, a sect loyal to the former regime. Many of Syria’s prisons have either been searched or emptied which leads Stern to believe that he may not be held in any well-documented facility.

The Complex Political Landscape

Stern provided insight into the complicated relationship between Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin, downplaying suggestions of strong ties that would result in Tice’s imprisonment in Russia. “The relationship between Assad and Putin is significantly overblown,” he stated, pointing out that the two leaders had not even met during Assad’s recent visit to Moscow.

The Role of Tribal Loyalty in Information Sharing

Though the U.S. State Department has publicly offered a million reward for information leading to Tice’s recovery, Stern believes that loyalty to tribal connections often outweighs financial incentives. “Half of the new government were Assad guys last week,” he remarked, indicating that fear of reprisal is a significant barrier to gathering credible information about Tice’s whereabouts.

Encouraging Signs from Other Organizations

Adding to the narrative of hope, Nizar Zakka, president of Hostage Aid Worldwide, recently echoed Stern’s belief during a press conference in Damascus. “We have data that Austin is alive till January 2024, and the president of the U.S. said in August that he is alive,” he reported, affirming that the organization is working diligently with Tice’s family and U.S. authorities in the ongoing search.

Looking Ahead: A Call for Transparency and Action

While Stern and Zakka’s claims offer the Tice family and the public a semblance of optimism in the search for the missing journalist, the need for concrete evidence remains crucial. Zakka indicated that they are committed to providing as much information as possible, yet details surrounding Tice’s circumstances remain scant.

As the investigation continues, both the families and the organizations involved hold onto hope. United by a common goal, they face a long road ahead, combining grit, intelligence, and unwavering belief in Tice’s survival to bring him home. The situation underscores the importance of dialogue and cooperation at international and local levels to facilitate eventual resolution in this ongoing hostage crisis.