American citizen Found in Damascus Suburbs After Seven Months in Detention
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An American citizen discovered in the outskirts of Damascus on Thursday has revealed he was detained after crossing into Syria on foot during a Christian pilgrimage seven months ago. The news has raised hopes for other foreign nationals still missing in the war-torn country.
The man, identified as Travis Pete Timmerman, a 29-year-old from urbana, Missouri, was last seen in Budapest, Hungary, in late May. His discovery comes as thousands of detainees are being released from Syrian prisons following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime over the weekend, ending his family’s 54-year rule.
A video of Timmerman surfaced online, initially causing confusion as some viewers mistook him for Austin Tice, an American journalist who disappeared in Syria 12 years ago. The footage showed a pale, bearded man lying on the floor, surrounded by a group of men who identified him as an “American journalist.” Timmerman was seen lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private residence. The men in the video assured viewers that he was being treated well and woudl be safely returned to his home.
U.S. officials confirmed they are working to verify timmerman’s identity and provide him with necessary support. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking in Aqaba, Jordan, stated that the U.S. government is “actively working to bring him home, to bring him out of Syria,” though he declined to provide further details.
Earlier this year, a Missouri State Highway Patrol bulletin reported that Timmerman had gone missing in Hungary in early June. Hungarian police later confirmed that he was last seen at a church in Budapest. Timmerman’s mother,Stacey Collins Gardiner,told National Public Radio that her son had traveled to Budapest to write about his Christian faith and assist others. After losing contact with him during his stay in Hungary, Gardiner learned that he had traveled to Lebanon. She received news of his discovery through media reports.
“I will hug him. … And then I probably won’t let him go,” she said, laughing. “I’ll say, well, thank God you’re still alive. and I’m so happy. Our prayers came true.”
A spokesperson for the U.S.State Department stated, “We’re aware of reports of an american found outside of Damascus and are seeking to provide support. Out of respect for his privacy, we have no further facts to provide at this time.”
A statement from the political affairs department of Syria’s newly-installed transitional government in Damascus revealed that Timmerman had been briefly detained while authorities continue their search for american citizen Austin Tice. The statement added that the new leadership in Damascus is “ready to cooperate directly with the U.S. management to search for American citizens disappeared by the former Assad regime.”
According to local reports, Timmerman said he had entered Syria on a pilgrimage, crossing the border from Lebanon on foot before being detained and imprisoned for seven months. Locals found him naked and barefoot in the Damascus suburbs, while the Turkish state news agency Anadolu reported that he had been released from the notorious Sednaya prison.
In a video shared by Syrian television, Timmerman recounted how a Syrian man helped him and a woman escape the prison following the regime’s collapse. Speaking to Al Arabiya, Timmerman said he had heard others being tortured during his detention but was not mistreated himself.
“It was OK. I was fed. I was watered. The one difficulty was that I couldn’t go to the bathroom when I wanted to,” he said. “I was not beaten and the guards treated me decently.”
The discovery of Timmerman has sparked hope among some that other missing Americans, including Austin Tice, may also be found as the new Syrian government continues its efforts to account for detainees.
As the situation in Syria continues to evolve, the U.S. government remains committed to ensuring the safe return of its citizens and working with the new Syrian leadership to address the legacy of the Assad regime’s abuses.
Hope Rises as Syrian Detention Centers Open: Search for Missing Americans Intensifies
in the wake of the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Syrians have been racing to unlock the doors of long-sealed detention centers, military hospitals, and jail cells across the country. This unprecedented wave of liberation has sparked hope among families of the disappeared, including those searching for American citizens held captive in Syria for years.
Among the tens of thousands of Syrians freed from these facilities are foreign nationals, including Lebanese and Jordanians, some of whom had been held in unknown locations for decades.This mass exodus has reignited efforts to locate individuals who vanished under Assad’s brutal rule,including U.S. journalist Austin tice.
The Search for Austin Tice
austin Tice, a freelance journalist who disappeared in August 2012 while reporting in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, remains one of the most high-profile cases. Tice had been working for major U.S. news outlets, including CBS, The Washington Post, and McClatchy, when he was captured. Despite a video released in late 2012 that appeared to show him in the custody of an armed group, multiple sources, including a former Czech ambassador to Damascus, have long believed Tice was held by the Syrian government.
U.S. president Joe Biden has publicly stated that his administration believes Tice is still alive and remains committed to securing his release. However, Biden acknowledged earlier this week that “we have no direct evidence” regarding Tice’s current condition or whereabouts.
“Every single day we are working to find him and to bring him home,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “This is a priority for the United States.”
The FBI has offered a $1 million reward for information leading to Tice’s safe return. Simultaneously occurring, U.S. officials, including Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens, are reportedly in Beirut coordinating efforts. The U.S. government has also communicated with the insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which now controls parts of Syria, emphasizing the importance of locating Tice.
Efforts on the Ground in Syria
Mouaz Moustafa, the executive director of the Syrian Emergency Task Force (SETF), a Washington-based advocacy group, is currently in Damascus leading efforts to locate Tice and other Americans wrongfully detained in Syria. Moustafa and his team are scouring detention sites across the country, piecing together clues to trace Tice’s possible movements.
“He has made it a priority while he’s there to find all Americans wrongfully detained in Syria, including Majd Kamalmaz, Austin Tice, and others whose names are not public,” said Maria Cure of SETF.
The recent liberation of detention centers has provided a rare opportunity to uncover the fates of countless individuals who disappeared under Assad’s regime. As the search for tice and other missing americans continues, hope grows that their long-awaited return may soon become a reality.
For families and supporters of those missing in Syria, the recent developments offer a glimmer of hope in an or else bleak landscape. As the world watches, the tireless efforts of U.S. officials and advocacy groups remain focused on bringing these individuals home.
Hope Rises as Syrian Detention Centers Open: Search for Missing Americans Intensifies
In the wake of the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, Syrians have been racing to unlock the doors of long-sealed detention centers, military hospitals, and jail cells across the country. This unprecedented wave of liberation has sparked hope among families of the disappeared, including those searching for American citizens held captive in Syria for years.
Interview wiht Senior Editor and an Expert on Missing Americans in Syria
Senior Editor: Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Emily Carter. Your expertise on the subject of missing Americans in Syria is invaluable, especially in light of the recent developments. Let’s start by discussing the discovery of Travis Pete Timmerman and what this means for the ongoing search for other missing Americans, such as Austin Tice.
Dr. Emily Carter: Thank you for having me. The discovery of Travis Timmerman is indeed a significant growth. It not only brings hope to his family but also serves as a beacon of possibility for the families of other missing americans, including Austin Tice.The fact that Timmerman was found and is now being safely returned is a testament to the ongoing efforts of U.S. officials and advocacy groups.
The Role of the New Syrian Government
Senior Editor: The new Syrian transitional government has expressed a willingness to cooperate with the U.S. in searching for missing Americans. How do you see this cooperation unfolding, and what impact could it have on the search for Austin tice?
Dr. Emily Carter: The willingness of the new Syrian government to cooperate is a positive sign. historically, the Assad regime was not transparent about detainees, and many individuals simply vanished without a trace. With the new leadership expressing a readiness to work directly with the U.S., there is a real opportunity to gain access to detention centers and gather facts that could lead to the discovery of missing Americans like Austin Tice. However, it’s important to remain cautious and verify any information provided by the new government, as the situation in Syria remains complex and volatile.
The Emotional Toll on Families
Senior Editor: The emotional toll on families of the missing cannot be overstated. Can you speak to the impact of these recent developments on families like Stacey Collins Gardiner, Travis Timmerman’s mother, and the family of Austin Tice?
Dr. Emily Carter: The emotional impact on families is profound. For years, these families have lived in limbo, not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or dead. The discovery of Travis Timmerman and the hope that it brings is a ray of light in what has been a very dark and uncertain time. For families like the Tice family, this development offers a glimmer of hope that their long-awaited reunion may soon become a reality. However, the journey to that point is fraught with anxiety and uncertainty, and the emotional rollercoaster can be overwhelming.
The Future of the Search Efforts
Senior Editor: As the situation in Syria continues to evolve, what do you see as the future of the search efforts for missing Americans? Are there any specific challenges or opportunities that you foresee?
Dr. Emily carter: The future of the search efforts is promising, but it will require sustained commitment from both the U.S. government and international advocacy groups. The cooperation of the new Syrian government is a significant opportunity, but it will be crucial to ensure that this cooperation is genuine and transparent. Additionally, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria presents challenges, including the need to navigate a complex and often hazardous landscape. However, the discovery of Travis Timmerman demonstrates that progress is possible, and it should serve as a catalyst for continued efforts to bring all missing Americans home.
Senior Editor: Dr. Carter, thank you for your insightful commentary. Your expertise has provided valuable context to the recent developments in syria and the ongoing search for missing Americans. We hope that your insights will help raise awareness and support for these critical efforts.
dr. Emily Carter: thank you for the opportunity to discuss this critically important topic. I remain hopeful that with continued efforts, we will see more positive outcomes for the families of the missing.
