(CNN) -- The Syrian government has told the parents of a missing American journalist that it doesn't know where their son is, the man's father said Monday at a news conference in Beirut, Lebanon. 

Austin Tice last contacted his family on August 13 while in Syria reporting on the uprising there against the government of President Bashar al-Assad. He was reportedly preparing to leave Syria for Lebanon when he went missing, according to his family. 

Read more: Family working for journalist's release plans visit to Lebanon 

In October, a shaky video surfaced on YouTube showing a man believed to be Tice surrounded by armed men walking him up a hill. 

Tice's father, Marc Tice, said that family members have been in touch, "directly and indirectly," with Syrian government officials, but they have learned nothing about his son's location despite traveling to Beirut to seek his release. 

"We're reaching out to everyone that we can get in touch with," he said. 

Tice's parents say they are willing to go to Syria if that what it will take to get their son back. 

"We have no idea what will be required, and we would like to know from whoever is holding him what it is that we need to do," Marc Tice said. 

Austin is the oldest of the couple's seven children. 

"We are a big, close family. We have all felt the void [of] his absence," said his mother, Debra Tice. 

With the holiday season approaching, they are "dismayed by the empty chair at our family table," she said. "We miss Austin. Knowing his smile, big laugh, great storytelling."  QUESTIONS:

Q1:
1. Who cannot currently be found?
2. Who are people trying to find?
3. 
Q2:
1. Who is looking for Austin Tice?
2. Who is attempting to locate Austin Tice?
3. 
Q3:
1. When did Austin Tice last communicate with his family?
2. When was the last time Austin Tice's family heard from him?
3. 
Q4:
1. Where was Austin Tice?
2. What country was Austin Tice located in?
3. 
Q5:
1. What was Austin Tice doing in Syria?
2. What brought Austin Tice to Syria?
3. 
Q6:
1. Where was Austin Tice going to be heading after he left Syria?
2. Once Austin Tice got out of Syria, what country was he supposed to head to?
3. 
Q7:
1. Does Austin Tice have any siblings?
2. Is Austin Tice a brother?
3. 
Q8:
1. Is Austin Tice the youngest of his siblings?
2. Are all of Austin Tice's siblings older than him?
3. 
Q9:
1. Will Austin Tice's family go to Syria to look for him?
2. Is Austin Tice's family going to travel to Syria to try and find him?
3. 
Q10:
1. Has there been video evidence that Austin Tice is still alive?
2. Have any videos confirmed that Austin Tice is currently living?
3. 
Q11:
1. What did Video of Austin Tice show?
2. What was depicted in the video of Austin Tice?
3. 
Q12:
1. When was video taken of Austin Tice?
2. In what month did video evidence of Austin Tice emerge?
3. 
Q13:
1. Where could video evidence of Austin Tice be found?
2. What platform showed a video of Austin Tice?
3. 
