Austin Tice's Family Responds to Syrian General's False Claims About Journalist

A Family's Call for Truth: The Austin Tice Case

On October 28, 2025, the National Press Club released a statement from the family of Austin Tice, an American journalist and veteran Marine, who is believed to be held captive in Syria. The statement addressed recent claims made by Bassam Hassan, a former Syrian general who has been associated with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Reports surfaced that Hassan had alleged Tice was killed back in 2013, however, this assertion has been undermined by recent evidence revealing that he failed an FBI-administered polygraph test.

According to Tice’s family, Hassan's claims have not only been misleading, but also damaging, as they lack solid supporting evidence. In their statement, the family pointed out that there has been no body, murder weapon, DNA sample, or eyewitness testimony to substantiate Hassan's allegations. Furthermore, they expressed frustration over the media outlets that quickly propagated these falsehoods, urging them to re-evaluate their reliance on unverified sources in their reporting.

“As a family, we have endured a lot of pain with each new lie that surfaces regarding Austin’s fate. Hassan’s statements concerning the existence of a body and presumed coordinates where it could be found are nothing short of a fabrication,” the statement asserted. The family has emphasized the significance of publishing corrections to these defamatory stories, appealing to the media to responsibly address the misinformation they disseminated.

The FBI has known about Hassan's failure on the lie detector test for some time, but the information was only recently communicated to Tice’s family, causing further concern over the communication process regarding Tice’s case. The family is calling for the FBI to publicly address the situation and clarify their findings to the media.

As of now, Austin Tice remains the longest-held American journalist in captivity, with indications suggesting he may still be alive. The Tice family believes that the U.S. government has additional insights concerning his welfare and whereabouts, and they are pressing for renewed efforts to safely locate him.

In their plea, they stated, “The U.S. government possesses critical information about Austin’s medical care and the locations where he was held until recent events. They must engage more proactively in efforts to recover him.”

The press release concluded with a heartfelt message from the Tice family, reiterating their resolve: “Austin is out there. We urge all involved to bring him home.” This incident is another chapter in the ongoing saga of the search for Austin Tice, who received the 2015 John Aubuchon Award for press freedom, highlighting the importance of journalistic integrity and accountability in reporting.

The National Press Club, through its Press Freedom Center, has been steadfast in supporting the Tice family throughout this distressing ordeal. As advocates of free press and truth, they stand by the family’s demands and continue to shine a light on the plight of journalists around the world.

As the uncertainty continues, the Tice family remains hopeful that public awareness and pressure can lead to a breakthrough in their son’s case. Their unwavering determination is a testament to the coordinated efforts needed to pursue truth in times of conflict and misinformation.