Biden says Austin Tice is being held by Syria, demands his release

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President Biden on Wednesday demanded the Syrian government release freelance journalist and Washington Post contributor Austin Tice, saying the United States knows he has been held by its government.

Tice was kidnapped 10 years ago.

“We know for certain that he is being held by the Syrian regime,” Biden said in a statement. “We have repeatedly asked the government of Syria to work with us so we can bring Austin home.”

This week marks a decade since Tice, who served in the US Marine Corps and was also a journalist working and covering the conflict in Syria, was kidnapped in Damascus on August 14, 2012, days after his 31st birthday . He is one of the longest-held American hostages.

Transcript: American Hostage with Debra and Mark Tice, parents of Austin Tice

Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad has not acknowledged that his government has detained Tais, and other senior Syrian officials have denied being detained or having knowledge of him. But Biden made it clear in his statement that the United States believes the Syrian government has the ability to free Tice.

“I’m calling on Syria to end this and help us bring him home,” Biden said. “There is no higher priority in my administration than the recovery and return of Americans held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad. We must name them, keep them in our hearts and minds and make their recovery and return a priority.”

Biden’s strongly worded statement came a month after his controversial trip to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is accused of being behind the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

In his statement, Biden alluded to a meeting he held in early May with Tice’s parents, Mark and Debra, saying he promised them he would try to secure their son’s release.

“The Tice family deserves answers, and more importantly, they deserve to be reunited with Austin quickly,” Biden said. “We are with Austin’s many loved ones and will not rest until we bring Austin home. Ten years is too long. So is every extra day.”