Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised to ask former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for help in finding American soldier and journalist Austin Tice after a letter from Tice's mother asking for help.
“I have not seen President Assad yet, since he came to Moscow – but I plan to do so. I will have a conversation with him,” Putin told NBC during a press conference to through the interpreter, although he seemed doubtful. about the former president's ability to help. “We are adults, we understand – 12 years ago, a person disappeared in Syria12 years ago.
THE DESTRUCTION OF SYRIA'S ASSAD REGIME WAKES US UP FROM THE AUSTIN TICE
Freelance journalist Austin Tice disappeared in Syria in 2012 and has not been heard from since. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“We understand what the situation was and for the past 12 years hostilities have been going on from both sides. Does President Assad himself know what happened to that US citizen, a journalist who did his journalistic work in a war zone?” he asked before taking a sip.
“However, I promise him that I will ask him this question,” he added.
Putin's comments come after Debra Tice on Wednesday appealed to the head of the Kremlin in a letter to help find her son who went missing after he was imprisoned in Damascus in August 2012.
The Syrian government for more than a decade refused to negotiate the release of Tice, who was kidnapped while reporting on the uprising against the Assad regime during the early stages of Syria's civil war, which it ended earlier this month after Syria's president was ousted. then fled to Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during his annual conference call and press conference on December 19, 2024, in Moscow. (Contributor/Getty Images)
“The the current situation in Syria it compels us to ask for your help in finding Austin and safely reuniting our families. You have deep ties to the Syrian government, which would be a great asset to our ongoing efforts to find our Austin,” he wrote in a letter obtained by Fox News. “This holiday season of peace and welcome, we respectfully ask for your help. for finding Austin and safely reuniting him with our family.
ASSAD PAINTING HIMSELF AS A 'GUARDIAN' IN SYRIA AS AN IMAGE USED WHEN DAMASCUS FALLS.
He added: “Of course, we would be willing to travel to Moscow or anywhere else on Earth to capture our precious Austin and bring him home safely.”
In an interview with NBC News, Debra defended her decision to write to the leader of the administration, one of the main opponents of the US, and said, “It's true that I reach powerful people, so they I helped us.”
“Russia has had a port there in Latakia forever, so I think they have the ability to know what is happening on the ground. We are still trying to find out where he is,” he stressed.
The State Department is offering $10 million for information related to finding Austin Tice. (State Department of Justice Award)
The State Department increased its efforts to find Tice after the fall of the Assad regime, including offering a reward of $ 10 million for information related to his release.
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“We're going all over every source, every player that can get information,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday in an interview with MSNBC's “Morning Joe,” in an article posted by the Department of the State. “This includes anyone and everyone who has some relationship with the various authorities that are rising in Syria. We have been in direct contact with them. We have some partners on the ground, and we are looking to get into the ground ourselves as quickly as we can.
“But the most important thing is this: Any information we get, any lead we have, we follow it. We have ways to do that regardless of whether we where,” Blinken continued. “And I can tell you that this is a priority… to find Austin.”