The relatives of Austin Tice, an American reporter who vanished in Syria more than ten years ago, now suspect he may have been transported to Iran after Bashar Assad’s government collapsed in 2024, according to his sister Naomi Tice.
Tice, a former Marine whose work appeared in The Washington Post and McClatchy publications, vanished at a Damascus-area checkpoint in August 2014 during his coverage of Syria’s civil war. Video footage released soon after showed armed individuals escorting him away.
According to Houston Public Media, Naomi Tice stated the family suspects Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps could have relocated him from Syria when Assad’s administration fell.
Naomi Tice explained that while Assad repeatedly denied detaining Austin Tice, certain Syrian detention centers operated under Iranian supervision. This arrangement could explain Assad’s denials if Iranian authorities managed facilities housing prisoners.
“With the regime change, we do think, at that point, Austin might have been brought over to Iran during that time,” Naomi Tice said. “Once again, this isn’t confirmed, but we have strong reason to believe that might be the case.”
Extensive searches following Assad’s downfall, including examinations of former Syrian government detention facilities, failed to locate Tice.
Earlier this year, The Media Line’s Rizik Alabi reported the discovery of human remains potentially belonging to Tice in a secluded section of Aleppo province in northern Syria.
Three sets of remains were reportedly found based on information from a former Islamic State operative allegedly connected to the abduction and murder of journalists and activists during Syria’s early conflict years.
Following DNA analysis in the United States, officials confirmed the remains did not match Austin Tice. FBI and Qatari search teams subsequently found additional remains thought to belong to Islamic State casualties, though Tice’s family disputed claims that his remains were discovered and continue asserting he remains alive.
The family is pressing the Trump administration to reach out to Iranian contacts and reports ongoing discussions with US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz about potential negotiations for Tice’s freedom.
They are also requesting President Trump to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to obtain information from Assad, who currently lives in Russian exile, regarding the journalist’s location.
The Tice family has additionally requested Israeli help concerning Khaled al-Halibi, a former Syrian brigadier general currently held in Austria facing war crimes charges. The New York Times publicly identified al-Halibi as a double agent connected to Israeli intelligence.
Jacob Tice, Austin’s brother, believes the FBI should interrogate al-Halibi to gather information that might help determine Austin’s condition or whereabouts.
