Bryan Stern of Grey Bull Rescue, a hostage rescue organization, has expressed strong confidence that American journalist Austin Tice is still alive. Stern, speaking from Syria, shared with Fox News Digital his belief, based on undisclosed intelligence, that Tice, a Marine veteran kidnapped in 2012, is alive and potentially recoverable. While cautious about revealing sensitive information, Stern stated his firm conviction that Tice was alive as of recently and is likely being cared for. He emphasized that Grey Bull Rescue, a non-profit, wouldn't be dedicating resources to the search if they weren't optimistic about Tice's survival.

Stern, with extensive experience in high-risk rescue operations across the globe, including Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, and Haiti, highlighted Grey Bull Rescue's success in conducting multiple jailbreaks from Russia. The recent political upheaval in Syria, with the ousting of Bashar al-Assad and the rise of HTS, has sparked renewed hope for Tice's recovery. While acknowledging the possibility of unforeseen circumstances, Stern dismissed the notion of Tice having perished from illness, citing a lack of evidence to support such a conclusion.

Stern described the current atmosphere in Syria as "cautiously happy" following years of oppressive rule. While the new HTS government isn't obstructing the search for Tice, their focus is primarily on establishing governance. Stern believes Tice is most likely being held in a private residence by Assad loyalists, as numerous prisons have already been thoroughly searched. He also downplayed the perceived strength of the relationship between Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that Russia is unlikely to be harboring Tice. Stern referenced a previous incident where Tice reportedly escaped but was subsequently recaptured in Damascus. The State Department is offering a substantial reward for information leading to Tice's recovery, but Stern believes tribal loyalties and fear of Assad's influence are greater motivators than financial incentives.

Another organization collaborating with Grey Bull Rescue, Hostage Aid Worldwide, has also affirmed its belief that Tice is alive, citing data and statements from US officials. While providing limited evidence, they reportedly presented an image indicating Tice's alleged locations of captivity. Both Grey Bull Rescue and Hostage Aid Worldwide are working with Tice's family and US authorities to locate the missing journalist.