Damascus: The mother of an American journalist who went missing in Syria in 2012 urged the incoming US President Donald Trump to help reveal her son's fate. Debra Tice arrived in Damascus on Sunday, for the first time in 10 years, as the toppled regime of Bashar al-Assad refused to renew her visa or to help reveal the fate of her son Austin Tice.

According to Anadolu Agency, Debra Tice expressed hope that the Trump administration would engage diligently in efforts to bring Austin home. During a press conference on Monday, she stated her anticipation of collaborating with Trump's new team, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and special presidential envoy Adam Boehler.

On Sunday, Debra met with Syria's new administration leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, as reported by the state news agency SANA. However, no specific details about the content of their meeting were disclosed by the broadcaster.

Debra Tice praised her meeting with al-Sharaa, emphasizing that her son's case is being actively pursued by the new Syrian administration. She expressed optimism, saying, "It was so wonderful to learn that they are dedicated and determined to bring home my son," and added that Syria is embarking on a new chapter aimed at a brighter future.

Austin Tice, a freelance journalist for outlets such as McClatchy, CBS, and The Washington Post, disappeared in Syria on August 14, 2012, shortly after his 31st birthday. He was reportedly detained at a checkpoint in a Damascus suburb while covering Syria's civil war.

The regime of Assad, Syria's leader for nearly 25 years, ended when anti-regime groups took control of Damascus on December 8, 2024, leading to Assad's flight to Russia and the conclusion of the Baath Party regime, which had governed since 1963.