US Man Freed After Months in Syrian Prison, Describes Dramatic Escape Amid Rebel Victory
A US citizen, who had been detained in Syria for months after entering the country on foot, was discovered by local residents near Damascus following a dramatic release. The man, later identified as Travis Timmerman, spoke to CBS News about his ordeal, detailing his escape as rebels overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
Timmerman, who was arrested seven months ago, had been reported missing after his last known location in Budapest in May. He was found lying on a sofa, speaking with local reporters, shortly after rebels captured Damascus.
Rebels, including leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, vowed to shut down Assad’s notorious prisons and hold accountable those responsible for the torture and deaths of detainees. “We will pursue them in Syria and ask countries to hand over those who fled to achieve justice,” said al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.
Timmerman described his dramatic release on Monday, the day after rebels toppled Assad’s regime. He was woken by the sound of his prison door being smashed open by two men armed with hammers. “I thought the guards were still there, so I was ready for more fighting, but once we got out, there was no resistance,” Timmerman said. He joined a large group of fellow prisoners attempting to reach Jordan, although he admitted to “moments of fear” during his escape.
Despite the uncertainty, Timmerman was well-received by local residents, who offered food and assistance as he made his way through the area. “They were coming to me, mostly,” he said, expressing gratitude for their help.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the US is actively working to bring Timmerman home, although he withheld further details about the process.
Since Assad’s fall, thousands of prisoners have been released from Syrian jails. Videos have shown men, women, and even children emerging from overcrowded, windowless cells, often disoriented and unaware of the world outside. Timmerman, however, seemed to be in relatively good condition. He shared that he had access to a mobile phone during his detention and had even spoken to his family three weeks ago.
In a separate interview with NBC, Timmerman explained that he had crossed the mountains between Lebanon and Syria on a “pilgrimage” and had spent much of his time reading scripture.
The US has also asked Syria’s main rebel group, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), to help locate and free Austin Tice, a US journalist missing since 2012. President Joe Biden has stated that the US believes Tice is still alive, though his whereabouts remain unknown.
Syria’s prisons, notorious for brutal conditions, have seen widespread torture and death. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights estimates that nearly 60,000 people were tortured or killed in Assad’s jails. As the regime’s collapse continues to unfold, desperate families are searching for loved ones, with help from the White Helmets.
Raed Saleh, director of the White Helmets, said, “We’re looking for secret prisons in several areas of Damascus” and expressed concern over the many families still searching for the lost. Some of the most notorious sites, like Saydnaya prison, have been described as “human slaughterhouses,” where thousands endured unimaginable horrors.
Despite their efforts, the White Helmets have struggled to locate all survivors. “We’ve helped recover thousands of detainees,” Saleh said, but acknowledged that many are likely either dead or have been moved elsewhere. Teams continue to search with sniffer dogs and lock-breaking tools in a desperate bid to uncover more survivors.
The search for justice and accountability in the aftermath of the Assad regime’s fall remains a top priority for many in Syria.
