WASHINGTON — The U.S. military successfully evacuated an American citizen from Syria who had been missing for seven months, according to U.S. officials. This operation occurred following a recent release of prisoners by rebels, which included the return of Travis Timmerman, 29 years old, who had been held in the infamous prison system run by former President Bashar Assad. He was transported to Jordan via a U.S. military helicopter as part of this mission.
Exact details surrounding Timmerman’s next steps remain uncertain. He has expressed gratitude to his rescuers but reportedly expressed a desire to remain in the region, as shared by a source familiar with the situation who wished to remain unnamed. Timmerman was detained after traveling into Syria during a Christian pilgrimage in June while departing from the Lebanese town of Zahle.
Speaking in an interview recently, Timmerman described his experience at the Palestine Branch, a notorious detention center overseen by Syrian intelligence, revealing he was not subject to mistreatment. Inside his cell, he had a mattress and basic sanitary supplies, including a plastic drinking container. He noted that he kept track of time by following the call to prayers five times daily, which marked the passage of days.
His release took place on Monday morning, coinciding with the chaotic takeover of Damascus by rebels, which resulted in the ousting of Assad. Timmerman stated that he was freed alongside a young Syrian man and 70 women prisoners, some accompanied by children. He recounted the liberators breaking down the door of his cell with a hammer to secure his release. Notably, he was isolated from other Syrian and Arab detainees and confirmed he was unaware of any other Americans detained there.
Originating from Urbana, Missouri, situated about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Springfield, Timmerman graduated with a degree in finance from Missouri State University in 2017. His mother, Stacey Gardiner, was informed that he was being transported to a military base in Jordan, although the family had yet to communicate with him.
Mouaz Moustafa, a Syrian activist based in the U.S., played a significant role in coordinating Timmerman’s safe return. He shared a photo of Timmerman standing alongside a U.S. soldier in a desert area, commenting on the successful rescue.
In parallel, U.S. officials continue their efforts to locate Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been missing in Syria since 2012. Nizar Zakka, with Hostage Aid Worldwide, was commissioned by Tice’s family to assist in the search. After receiving a lead from a Syrian who believed to have seen Tice, Zakka communicated with Tice’s family. Unfortunately, the family determined the lead was not their loved one, as they felt certain the individual in question was not Tice.
Zakka revealed that he had previously visited various detention locations and residences belonging to Assad’s associates in search of Tice, but these efforts have yet to yield any significant information. He outlined three potential scenarios regarding Tice’s fate: he could still be held in a detention facility in Damascus, have been taken by a senior Assad associate for safety, or potentially be deceased, along with other prisoners, to remove evidence of illegal actions.
Zakka criticized the U.S. government for announcing a $10 million reward for credible information about Tice, stating that this has resulted in an overwhelming number of false leads and subsequent confusion.
