According to US sources on Friday, the US military has evacuated an American who vanished seven months ago from the infamous jail system of former President Bashar Assad. The American was one of hundreds of people freed this week by rebels.
A U.S. military chopper transported 29-year-old Travis Timmerman to Jordan, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing operation.
Where Timmerman will go next is unknown. Another person with knowledge of the incident who was not allowed to talk publicly said that although he praised his rescuers for his release, he has expressed his desire to remain in the area to American officials.
Timmerman was arrested in June when he entered Syria while on a Christian pilgrimage from a mountain close to Zahle in eastern Lebanon.
In an interview with The Associated Press earlier Friday, he said that he was not mistreated by the infamous prison center, Palestine Branch, which is overseen by Syrian intelligence.
Timmerman said he had two garbage containers, a plastic drinking container, and a mattress in his prison cell. He claimed that he was able to keep track of the days thanks to the Friday prayer calls.
According to Timmerman, Assad was freed Monday morning together with a young Syrian guy and 70 female detainees, some of whom had children, after rebels overran Damascus and overthrew him in a violent upheaval.
He said he was freed by the liberators who entered the prison and used a hammer to smash down the door of his cell. He said he was not aware of any other Americans held at the facility, which kept him apart from Syrian and other Arab captives.
Timmerman hails from Urbana, Missouri, which is located in the southwest part of the state, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Springfield. In 2017, he graduated from Missouri State University with a degree in finance.
His mother, Stacey Gardiner, acknowledged that she was informed of his relocation to a military installation in Jordan. He has yet to hear from the family.
A picture of the liberated American standing next to a man wearing a US military uniform in the flat desert of the region was tweeted by Mouaz Moustafa, a Syrian opposition member based in the United States who collaborated with rebels to organize Timmerman’s return to safety.
Moustafa said, “Safe and sound, and back in American hands.”
Austin Tice, an American journalist who vanished 12 years ago in Damascus, is currently being sought by US authorities.
After receiving a tip from a Syrian close to where Timmerman was found Thursday, Nizar Zakka, head of Hostage Aid Worldwide, the US-based charity assigned by Tice’s family to find him, said he called Tice’s mother and sister. According to the caller, the foreigner was Tice.
To be certain, we requested audio recordings and movies, Zakka informed me. From the start, we thought the information was inaccurate, especially given the child’s age. Nevertheless, we made the decision to inform the mother.
We woke the sister at three in the morning (in the US), and she told me one thing. “It’s definitely not Austin,” she added.
Zakka said he had searched detention centers and the residences of influential members of Assad’s inner circle for Tice but had found nothing.
We will find him somewhere in Damascus, in the jail where he was left, or in the house, in the safe house where he is; a high-ranking member of Assad’s inner circle took Tice with him when he fled the country as a security measure for his life; or Tice’s captors killed him and other prisoners to hide the evidence of their crimes, according to Zakka’s three possible scenarios.
He said that the announcement of a $10 million prize for information that led to TICE caused uncertainty and a deluge of fake reports from the United States.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.