US officials have informed the daughter of an American citizen who disappeared in Syria seven years ago that they have credible intelligence suggesting his death. The man, Majd Kamalmaz, a psychotherapist from Texas, went missing in February 2017 while traveling to visit a family member in Syria.
During a recent meeting in Washington, the daughter, Maryam Kamalmaz, was presented with detailed intelligence indicating that her father had likely died early in his captivity. Officials expressed a high level of confidence in the information, rating it a “high nine” on a scale of one to ten.
Despite previous indications in 2020 that Majd Kamalmaz may have died of heart failure in 2017, the family had held out hope until this recent confirmation. The daughter emphasized the significance of the meeting, stating that it provided clarity on the credibility and verification process of the intelligence.
The FBI's Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell reiterated its commitment to recovering all US hostages and supporting their families. Majd Kamalmaz is one of several Americans who have disappeared in Syria, including journalist Austin Tice, who went missing in 2012.
Efforts to negotiate the release of Americans held in Syria have faced challenges, with a high-level meeting in 2020 proving unfruitful due to Syrian authorities not providing proof-of-life information and making unreasonable demands. US officials continue to work towards bringing home individuals like Austin Tice.
The confirmation of Majd Kamalmaz's death marks a somber development in the ongoing efforts to address the plight of Americans missing in Syria.
