Damascus, Syria – A man believed to be Travis Timmerman, a 29-year-old resident of Missouri, was discovered in Damascus, Syria, after reportedly being released from a prison. Residents found him wandering barefoot in a neighborhood just south of Damascus. This comes as thousands of prisoners have been freed across Syria following the toppling of former president Bashar al-Assad by rebels.
The man, identified as Timmerman, stated in a video that his name is Travis and that he hails from the United States. Hungarian police had previously issued an alert for Timmerman’s disappearance back in June. Speaking to CBS News, the man claiming to be Timmerman revealed that he had been held in a Syrian prison for several months after illegally crossing into the country from Lebanon. He mentioned that his purpose for traveling to Syria was spiritual.
According to CBS News, Timmerman recounted that his cell door was forcefully opened by two armed men on Monday, and he left the prison with a group in an attempt to reach Jordan. He described his time in the Syrian prison as not too harsh, stating that although he was not physically abused, he faced restrictions on using the bathroom, only being allowed to go three times a day.
Timmerman shared similar details with Al-Arabiya TV network in another interview. A U.S. official informed CNN that the United States is aware of reports concerning an American found near Damascus and is prepared to offer support. The official added that due to privacy concerns, no further information could be disclosed at the moment. CNN has reached out to Timmerman’s family and friends for their input on the situation.
This continues to be a developing story with ongoing updates expected in the future.