Head of hostage NGO believes US journalist Tice still in Syria
Damascus, Syria Reuters The head of an American organisation focused on hostage releases said on Monday he believes US journalist Austin Tice was still being held in Syria by people loyal to toppled leader Bashar al-Assad. Speaking to Reuters in Damascus, Nizar Zakka said he believed Tice was being held by “very few people in […]
US held “very productive” first meeting with Syria’s al-Sharaa
Washington DC, US/Damascus, Syria Reuters Senior US diplomats visiting Damascus on Friday met with Syria’s de-facto new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa and held a “good” and “very productive” meeting with him about Syria’s political transition and decided to remove a bounty on his head. In their first in-person meeting with the leaders of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham […]
No US Government group in Syria for search of Austin Tice, State Department says
Washington DC, US Reuters The US State Department on Monday said there is no US Government organisation currently on the ground in Syria for the search of Austin Tice, an American journalist taken captive during a reporting trip in August, 2012, but did not rule out the possibility. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller told reporters […]
American pilgrim imprisoned in Assad’s Syria calls his release from prison a “blessing”
Damascus, Syria AP An American who disappeared seven months ago into former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s notorious prison system said early Friday he was released by the “liberators” who arrived in Damascus a day after the longtime ruler fled the capital. Travis Timmerman called his release a “blessing” when he spoke to The Associated Press […]
Syria’s new authorities say they’ve secured the release of an American pilgrim imprisoned by Assad
Updated: 11:15am (AEDT) Damascus, Syria AP An American citizen who disappeared seven months ago into former Syrian President Bashar Assad’s notorious prison system was suddenly discovered Thursday outside Damascus after being released and handed over to rebel forces, Syria’s new authorities said. The political affairs office of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the rebel group that […]
Refugees return to Syria as caretaker Prime Minister appointed
Damascus, Syria Reuters Refugees from Syria’s long civil war were making their way home on Wednesday, as a new interim Prime Minister said he had been appointed with the backing of the rebels who toppled President Bashar al-Assad. US officials, engaging with rebels led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), urged them not to assume automatic […]
US races to find captive journalist Austin Tice after Syria regime collapse
Washington DC, US Reuters US officials were pressing on Monday for information about Austin Tice and to secure the release of the American journalist captured in Syria 12 years ago. Washington’s hostage-affairs envoy Roger Carstens was in Beirut as part of intensive efforts to locate Tice, according to the State Department, while White House national […]