US President Donald Trump said on Friday that American journalist Austin Tice, captured in Syria more than 12 years ago, has not been seen in years.
Trump was asked if he brought up Tice when he met with Syria's new President Ahmed al-Sharaa during a visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.
"I always talk about Austin Tice. Now you know Austin Tice hasn't been seen in many, many years," Trump replied. "He's got a great mother who's just working so hard to find her boy. So I understand it, but Austin has not been seen in many, many years."
US journalist was abducted in 2012 while reporting against Assad
Tice, a former US Marine and a freelance journalist, was 31 when he was abducted in August 2012 while reporting in Damascus on the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted by Syrian rebels who seized the capital Damascus in December. Syria had denied he was being held.
US officials pressed for Tice's release after the government fell. Former President Joe Biden said at the time he believed Tice was alive.
Earlier this week, Tice's body was allegedly found in a cemetery in northern Syria, sources told Sky News Arabia.
In early May, his mother said the US government knew of her son's whereabouts, according to The Washington Post.
It was reported last month that in response to US demands, Syria pledged to set up a liaison office at the foreign ministry to find Tice, as well as and detail its work to tackle chemical weapons stockpiles, including closer ties with a global arms watchdog.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.