Blinken said in an interview with the “Washington Post”: “We have many contacts regarding Austin … with Syria and other countries.”
“We’re trying to find a way to bring him home. We won’t stop until that happens,” he added.
With this statement, Blinken confirmed news reports of US-Syrian contacts regarding missing journalist Austin Tice.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier, citing Middle Eastern officials familiar with US efforts, that President Joe Biden’s administration has resumed direct talks with Syria over Tice and other Americans.
Austin Tice, a former US Marine and freelance journalist, was abducted in August 2012 while covering the civil war in Syria. He was then 31 years old.
His family believe he is alive and still being held in Syria. The identity of Tice’s kidnappers is still unknown and no one has claimed responsibility for his abduction.
President Joe Biden said last year that Washington knew “for certain” that the Syrian government held Tice at some point.
The Syrian government has denied the abduction or detention of Tice.
In response to a question about Tice, White House spokeswoman Karen Jean-Pierre said she could not confirm any meetings.
Washington suspended its diplomatic presence in Syria in 2012 as civil war raged in the country.
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