American journalist Austin Tice has been held captive in Syria since 2012.
Posted by The Michael Berry Show, Checked
- Sources
- 3 contradict4 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 60%
The Michael Berry ShowSep 23, 2026
Sources confirm Austin Tice was abducted in Syria in August 2012 and that the Syrian government held him, but they conflict on whether he remained in captivity.
A played clip makes this claim. Listeners heard it, so it counts against the post.
What was said
… Sennan went inside one of those newly liberated facilities, and our closer board made an incredible discovery behind a cell door that was still locked: a forgotten prisoner deep in the belly of the regime's air force intelligence headquarters. We are hoping to find traces of Austin Tice, an American journalist held captive in Syria since 2012. It's one of many secret prisons across the city. This specific branch was tasked with surveillance, arrest, and killing of all regime critics. We don't find any hints of Tice, but come across something extraordinary. I can't tell, though. …
The Michael Berry Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Contradicts. RSF's 2026 investigation confirmed Assad's government held Tice until at least early 2013 but found no tangible evidence he is still being held, undercutting continuous captivity to the present.[4]
Contradicts. CNN's 2025 investigation reported that a four-star general close to Assad said Tice was killed in 2013, and a former Syrian commander told the BBC Tice was executed, though others dispute this and no remains have been found.[3][5]
Supports. Multiple tier-1 outlets report that American journalist Austin Tice was taken captive or disappeared near Damascus in August 2012 while reporting on the Syrian civil war.[1][2][6]
Supports. The US government said in 2022 it was certain Tice had been held by the Syrian regime, and a 2026 BBC investigation found secret Syrian intelligence files showing the regime held him.[3][6][7]
Context. Tice's family in Houston says they still believe he is alive and held somewhere, and CPJ has reclassified him as missing rather than confirmed as imprisoned.[8][9]
Sources
9 sources: 2 fact-checkers, 2 tier 1, 4 not rated, 1 tier 2
- 1Syria denies it is holding American journalist Austin Ticeapnews.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Syria denies kidnapping or holding U.S. journalist missing for 10 yearsreuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 3Austin Tice: Assad regime planned US journalist's kidnap ...bbc.com · tier 1 · cited for: contradicts, supports
- 4US journalist Austin Tice, missing since 2012, still prisoner ...rsf.org · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 5Who was Austin Tice, the US journalist who disappeared in ...edition.cnn.com · not rated · cited for: contradicts
- 6Austin Tice: US says reporter missing since 2012 held in Syriabbc.co.uk · tier 1 · cited for: supports
- 710 years after Austin Tice vanished in Syria, his family continues its fight for himnpr.org · tier 2 · cited for: supports
- 814 years after Austin Tice’s disappearance in Syria, his family in Houston presses efforts to find him | Houston Public Mediahoustonpublicmedia.org · not rated · cited for: context
- 9Austin Ticecpj.org · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
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