“I’ve never had a moment of doubt… I always knew that [Tice] is going to walk free. And, you know, we have a whole new way of thinking about how that’s going to happen,” she said. “I can hardly wait for my arms around [him].”

On Sunday, Debra Tice – who said she wore a “Free Austin Tice” badge even at home – met Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian de facto leader, who has vowed to hold accountable those responsible for the most serious crimes during the Assad regime.

She said she hoped the families would continue to have access to the facilities where prisoners were held “to allow people to search and keep hope”.

“I’m here to be with people that understand the longing, to be able to celebrate with people that are being reunited, and also hold the hearts of those of us that are still searching and waiting and wishing and hoping and praying.”

She had visited Syria for the last time in 2015, when the country’s authorities stopped issuing visas to her. Now, she said, “people are more relaxed” and “children have smiles on their faces”.

“I want to be one of the moms, one of the families that finds my loved one and throws my arms around him and takes them home,” she said.