Posted on 12/12/2024 8:50:58 AM PST by Red Badger
World Man identifying himself as American Travis Timmerman found in Syria after being freed from prison By Haley Ott
Updated on: December 12, 2024 / 9:31 AM EST / CBS News
A man identifying himself as an American from Missouri, Travis Timmerman, was found Thursday in Syria after he said he was freed from a prison earlier in the week, when longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad was forced from power by a shock rebel offensive.
Timmerman told CBS News senior foreign correspondent Elizabeth Palmer that he had been trying to make his own way out of the country after walking out of the prison where he'd been held for more than half of a year. He said he was detained upon entering Syria without permission seven months ago after spending a month in neigboring Lebanon.
A U.S. official told CBS News the government was aware of the reports that an American had been found outside Damascus and that it was seeking to provide support, but the official declined to provide any further detail out of respect for his privacy.
An American man who identified himself as Missourian Travis Timmerman speaks with CBS News' Elizabeth Palmer in Syria, Dec., 12, 2024. CBS News/Agnes Reau Timmerman said two men armed with AK-47s broke his prison door down Monday with a hammer.
"My door was busted down, it woke me up," Timmerman said. "I thought the guards were still there, so I thought the warfare could have been more active than it ended up being… Once we got out, there was no resistance, there was no real fighting."
Timmerman said he had gone to Syria for Christian "spiritual purposes" and that his experience in prison "wasn't too bad."
"I was never beaten. The only really bad part was that I couldn't go to the bathroom when I wanted to. I was only let out three times a day to go to the bathroom," he said.
Timmerman said he left the prison with a large group and started walking away. He said he had been trying to head toward Jordan.
He said he "had a few moments of fear," when he left the prison, and hadn't really processed that he was free.
"I still haven't really thought about that. I've been more worried about finding a place to sleep each night since then," he told CBS News. "So I've been working, really."
Timmerman said he hadn't been afraid to approach people to ask for help or a place to sleep at night on his journey.
"They were coming to me, mostly," Timmerman said, adding that he'd spoken with his family three weeks ago, through a phone that he had while in prison. He said he had been allowed to use it.
"I'm feeling well. I've been fed and I've been watered, so I'm feeling well," Timmerman said.
Timmerman was named as "Travis Pete Timmerman" on a missing person's bulletin published by Hungarian police in August, which said he had been last seen at a church in the country.
A missing person's bulletin published by the Missouri State Highway Patrol said that Timmerman, whose first name was listed as Pete, had been last seen in Budapest. The bulletin said the date of his last contact had been June 2, 2024, and that he was 29 years old when he went missing.
Camilla Schick and Joanne Stocker contributed to this report.
he looks rather good for someone that’s been in a Syrian prison for 7 months
Trump said he’d make it hell on earth if they weren’t freed before Jan 20. I guess they’re getting the point
“He said he was detained upon entering Syria without permission...”
A real rocket surgeon, this one.
My goodness....wonder how much we paid for the info...
He needs an IQ test just as anyone who goes to these sh_thole countries.
That was for the captives in Gaza.
Anyone else remember how just before Reagan became President, Iran let their prisoners go?
Apparently
So... CIA contractor...
I was thinking CIA NOC too.
“ That was for the captives in Gaza.”
…he said Middle East
So why is a left wing CBS hack interviewing him? Trying to turn it around so he’s at fault?
People with naive ‘good intentions’ tend to do silly things in the real world.
“Spiritual purposes” could mean that he wanted to convert Muslims to Christianity or perhaps to get in touch with Syrian Christians. Did he know any Arabic before going there?
The Syrians may be evil but apparently not stupid. This guy has CIA written all over him.
Looks like he is only a week or so past a haircut and beard trim.
I'm glad he's free but.... what kind of idiot would just walk into Syria from Lebanon? Did he think he was Paul on the road to Damascus?
That will get you killed in many majority-muslim countries.
I bet he got an epiphany...............
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.