Assad Using US Reporter As Leverage? Hostage Hunter Believes Austin Tice Still ‘Hidden in Damascus’

A former prisoner leading a private effort to help find captive US journalist Austin Tice is concerned that deposed Syrian leader Assad may be hiding him. Nizar Zakka, who was detained in Iran on spying charges, now runs Hostage Aid Worldwide, a group working to free kidnapped civilians. Both Zakka’s group and the US government believe Assad or his former officials are holding Tice.He believes that members of the ousted Assad clan or former officials may still be holding him. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION4:28 WHO IS AUSTIN TICE?5:12 TICE ESCAPED BRIEFLY IN 2013: REPORT6:10 US IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH HTS TO FIND TICE