Journalist vanished in Syria 14 years ago

Austin Tice, a Georgetown law student and former US Marines captain, disappeared in Syria in August 2012 while reporting on the civil war. He was last seen blindfolded in a video posted over a month after his capture.

BBC uncovers regime held him all along

After Assad's regime fell in 2024, the BBC obtained secret Syrian intelligence files containing hundreds of pages of internal records proving the government had detained Tice, ending years of uncertainty about his fate.

Kidnapping was planned, not random

For years, people assumed Tice was taken at a chance government checkpoint. BBC investigation reveals his abduction was a calculated operation planned for over a month with approval from the top.

Driver tipped off the regime

Tice's trusted driver had been passing information to the Assad regime for some time. He told a senior militia member that Tice was reporting from rebel-held areas, triggering the operation.

Assad personally approved the operation

Information about Tice reached Bassam al-Hassan, one of Assad's most trusted security figures and head of the National Defence Forces militia. Hassan called Assad, who allegedly replied: "Bring him to us."

“"Bring him to us," Assad replied”

Regime watched him for weeks

Rather than grab Tice immediately, the driver suggested they continue watching him to learn more. They monitored his movements and even secretly took his backpack to examine his laptop and satellite transmitter.

Tice's final birthday in Damascus

On August 11, 2012, Tice celebrated his 31st birthday at a rebel safehouse near Assad's palace with Free Syrian Army fighters, Taylor Swift music, and whiskey. He tweeted it was his best birthday ever.

“"Hands down, best birthday ever," he wrote.”

The betrayal at the gates

Days later, Tice's driver took him to a state facility in Tahouneh on Damascus's outskirts. At the gates, the driver pulled a gun. Tice laughed, thinking it was a joke, then offered his chequebook to stop the kidnapping.

Driver identified as Hamid Abu Obeid

BBC traced the driver to Hamid Abu Obeid from Homs. His family confirmed he drove Tice away and said he was promised Syrian citizenship, a passport, a house, and a weapon in exchange for the betrayal.

Driver received only a pistol

Abu Obeid's family, Palestinian refugees from Gaza living in poverty with no Syrian citizenship rights, said he received only a pistol after the kidnapping, not the promised rewards that would have transformed his life.

Driver vanishes after regime falls

After Assad's regime collapsed, Abu Obeid's wife says he was threatened by someone who knew about his involvement and wanted asylum. He took money, said he was going shopping, and never returned.

Two families searching for answers

Tice's mother and Abu Obeid's wife now share the same desperate wish: to find their missing loved ones. Both families are searching for answers about disappearances that began over a decade ago.