Austin Tice's mother and siblings visited the White House on Friday and requested that the Biden administration do more to bring the kidnapped American reporter home.
After the meeting, Tice's family spoke to the media — with his mother, Debra, saying they have information from a "significant source" that shows Austin is alive.
The former U.S. Marine and freelance journalist disappeared in August 2012 while covering the Syrian civil war for news outlets such as The Washington Post, CBS News and McClatchy newspapers.
RELATED STORY | Prisoner swaps draw renewed attention to Austin Tice's 12 years in Syria
For more than 12 years, Tice's exact whereabouts in Syria have remained a mystery.
During the White House meeting, Tice's brother, Jacob, said he asked National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan whether President Biden would call Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to request Austin's release.
Sullivan told him he couldn't guarantee it, prompting Jacob to express his "disappointment."
Debra Tice met with President Biden in 2022 and he said then that the U.S. knows "with certainty" that Austin is alive.
In response, the Syrian government denied it was holding any Americans.
The FBI is offering a $1 million reward for the location and safe return of Tice.
