Family hopeful that the president’s personal involvement helps gain release.
President Biden met earlier this week with the parents of Austin Tice, an American journalist abducted in Syria in 2012. He committed to engaging directly with the Assad regime to find a solution that will bring their son home.
The family believes the president’s personal involvement will signal to Syria that the U.S. government views their son’s freedom as a priority, and will negotiate in good faith after years of sanctions and isolation.
An official at the White House said, “We will continue to pursue all avenues, to include engaging anyone, including direct engagement, to secure the return of U.S. hostages and wrongfully detained persons.”
Direct U.S. engagement with the Assad regime has been extremely rare in the years since the Syrian civil war, but the Syrians have “repeatedly made clear” that they will not negotiate Tice’s case with mediators.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the president to be discerning in negotiating for the journalist’s release.
- For the family of Austin Tice as they hope and wait for his return.
Sources: Axios, Washington Post
