President Joe Biden says the U.S. government believes missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years ago near the Syrian capital, is alive.

In 2012, journalist Austin Tice went missing in Syria, but on Sunday President Joe Biden said he believes Tice is still alive. Tice’s family also shares Biden’s belief. The president said he believes that Tice could be returned now that President Bashar al-Assad's government has been toppled by rebels.

President Joe Biden laid out steps the U.S. government plans to take now that Syrian rebels toppled the government of President Bashar al-Assad and captured the Syrian capital of Damascus. Biden said the priority is to make sure there is no resurgence of ISIS and said he is mindful that Americans are in Syria.

The FBI has since offered a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to Austin Tice’s safe location, recovery, and return.

Efforts to locate Austin Tice, the U.S. journalist who was abducted while covering the civil war in Syria over 12 years ago, have gained new urgency following the sudden fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in the country.

Biden said officials must still identify exactly where Tice is after his disappearance in August 2012 at a checkpoint in a contested area west of Damascus, Syria.

President Joe Biden told reporters he believes journalist Austin Tice is still alive and we will "get him back" from Syria.

Austin Tice is a Texan journalist and former U.S. Marine corps officer who was reporting on the Syrian conflict when he went missing in August 2012. His disappearance has rendered him the longest-held journalist in captivity, according to the National Press Club.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Sunday that the U.S. government believes missing American journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared 12 years ago near the Syrian ...

President Joe Biden says his administration believes Austin Tice is alive and that the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria could present an opportunity to bring him home, more than 12 years after the missing journalist traveled there to cover Syria ...

In a groundbreaking move, U.S. diplomats held their first high-level meeting in Damascus since the regime change, engaging with the new interim government, including Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) leader Abu Mohammad al-Jolani.

Transitions between administrations often become quiet periods of several months for hostage cases. But after 12 years in Syria, Austin may not have months to spare.