The mother of Austin Tice, a US journalist kidnapped in Syria over 12 years ago, claims her family has information that he is still alive. “We have from a significant source that has been vetted all over our government: Austin Tice is alive,” Debra Tice told media at the National Press Club on Friday, before proceeding to the White House for a meeting. US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited with Tice’s family in the afternoon, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “Jake Sullivan did have a meeting with Austin Tice’s family this afternoon, and … Jake Sullivan has regularly met with the families of wrongfully detained Americans,” she told me.

We will continue to ensure that Americans who have been wrongly incarcerated are returned to their families.” Tice, a former US Marine and freelance journalist, was kidnapped in Damascus in 2012 while covering the Syrian revolt against President Bashar al-Assad. He was 31 at the time. There have been no claims of blame for his kidnapping.