History of Austin Tice in Timeline

Austin Tice, an American freelance journalist and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was kidnapped in Syria on August 13, 2012, while reporting. He is the longest-detained American journalist in history. For years, the U.S. government asserted that Tice was held by the Assad regime in Syria. This was later confirmed through Syrian intelligence files uncovered by the BBC and information from former Syrian officials following the fall of the Assad regime, confirming his detention by the Assad regime. His case remains a significant concern, highlighting the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Challenges & Struggles

August 11, 1981: Austin Tice Born

On August 11, 1981, Austin Bennett Tice was born. He is an American freelance journalist and a veteran U.S. Marine Corps officer.

Others born on this day/year

2001: Dawit Isaak Detained

Since 2001, Dawit Isaak has been held without trial in Eritrea and is the longest detained journalist in the world.

2002: Graduation from Georgetown University

In 2002, Austin Tice graduated from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University.

May 2012: Entered Syria

In May 2012, Austin Tice entered Syria and traveled through the central region of the country, filing battlefield dispatches.

July 2012: Arrived in Damascus

In late July 2012, Austin Tice arrived in Damascus while reporting from inside Syria during the intensification of the civil war.

August 11, 2012: Stopped Tweeting

Austin Tice stopped tweeting after August 11, 2012, with his Twitter account having garnered 2,000 followers.

August 13, 2012: Kidnapped in Syria

On August 13, 2012, Austin Tice was kidnapped while reporting in Syria. He is the longest detained American journalist in history.

September 2012: Video Released

In September 2012, a 47-second video of Austin Tice blindfolded and bound was released after he was abducted in Darayya, Syria while working as a freelance journalist.

October 2012: U.S. Government Believes Tice in Assad Regime Custody

In October 2012, the U.S. government believed that Austin Tice was in the custody of the Assad regime, based on the limited information available.

2013: Tice Reportedly Escaped

Reports emerged that in early 2013, Austin Tice was able to escape from his cell after five months of captivity and was found wandering through the Mazzeh neighborhood of Damascus before being recaptured.

April 2018: FBI Increases Reward

In April 2018, the FBI increased their reward for information regarding Austin Tice's whereabouts to $1 million.

August 2018: US Believes Tice Held by Syrian Government

In August 2018, two US officials stated that Austin Tice was believed to still be alive, and the State Department said the U.S. government believed he was being held by the Syrian government or its allies.

November 2018: US Calls on Russia to Secure Release

In November 2018, Reuters reported that the US Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs called on Russia to use its influence in Syria to secure Austin Tice's release.

December 2018: Parents Announce New Information

In December 2018, Austin Tice's parents announced during a press conference that they had received new information indicating their son was still alive, and they believed direct talks between the US and Syrian governments would be the best chance for his release.

2020: Secret Trip to Damascus

In the summer of 2020, Kash Patel, then White House counterterrorism advisor, travelled secretly to Damascus with Roger Carstens, US hostage negotiator, in an attempt to win the release of Austin Tice.

2022: Biden Meets with Tice's Parents

After Austin Tice's disappearance was mentioned at the 2022 White House Correspondents Dinner, President Joe Biden invited Tice's parents to the White House for a meeting. His parents were hopeful for his return, and Biden noted the US government knew "with certainty" the journalist was being held by the Syrian government.

2022: Fellow Detainees Saw Tice

Several papers have reported that fellow detainees saw Austin Tice as recently as 2022.

May 3, 2024: Biden States Tice Remains Hostage

In a statement released on May 3, 2024, during World Press Freedom Day 2024, President Biden stated that Austin Tice remained a hostage in Syria.

December 8, 2024: Biden Speech on Fall of Assad Regime

In a speech on December 8, 2024, the day of the fall of the Assad regime, President Biden said that "We believe he's alive [...] we think we can get him back, but we have no direct evidence of that yet."

June 2025: Confirmation of Assad Regime Holding Tice

In June 2025, Syrian intelligence files uncovered by the BBC and confirmation from former Syrian officials confirmed that Austin Tice had been held by the Assad regime.

June 2025: Syrian Files Confirm Assad Regime Held Tice

In June 2025, Syrian intelligence files uncovered by the BBC, along with confirmation from former Syrian officials after the fall of the Assad regime, confirmed that Austin Tice had been held by the Assad regime.