(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."

1. Who is missing?
2. Who is looking for him?
3. When did he last communicate with his family?
4. Where was he?
5. What was he doing there?
6. Where was he going to be heading after he left Syria?
7. Does he have any siblings?
8. Is he the youngest of them?
9. Will the family go to Syria to look for him?
10. Has there been video evidence that he is still alive?
11. What did it show?
12. When was this?
13. Where could the video be found?

Numbered answers:
1. Austin Tice
2. The Syrian government
3. August 13
4. in Syria
5. Reporting
6. Lebanon
7. Yes
8. No
9. Yes
10. Yes
11. Tice surrounded by armed men walking him up a hill
12. October
13. YouTube