The Biden administration has had direct engagements with the Syrian government in an effort to secure the release of detained American Austin Tice, according to a source familiar and a senior administration official.

There have been a number of direct interactions – none of which took place in Damascus – but they have thus far yielded no progress, the source familiar said.

The senior administration official confirmed the direct contact, first reported by McClatchy, noting it was one of multiple avenues the administration is pursuing in an effort to free Tice.

This week marks the tenth anniversary of Tice being taken hostage in