Travis Timmerman flown out of Syria on US military helicopter: report

Travis Timmerman, an American recently found in Syria, was transported out of the Middle Eastern nation on a U.S. military helicopter, according to a new report on Friday.

Timmerman Leaves Syria

Travis Timmerman, 29, was evacuated from Syria by a U.S. military helicopter, according to a U.S. official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing nature of the operation.

Timmerman's next destination remains uncertain. After his rescue, he expressed gratitude to those who freed him but indicated to U.S. officials that he wishes to remain in the region, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Why Was He in Syria?

Timmerman was detained in June after crossing into Syria during a Christian pilgrimage from a mountain near the eastern Lebanese town of Zahle. He told The Associated Press that he was not mistreated during his time at the Palestine Branch, a notorious detention center run by Syrian intelligence.

A video of Timmerman circulated online initially sparked speculation that the man might be Austin Tice, a 43-year-old American journalist who vanished in Syria in 2012 shortly after celebrating his 31st birthday.

After being located in Dhiyabia by NBC News, the man identifying himself as "Travis" explained that he had "been reading the Scripture a lot" before deciding to cross the mountains from Lebanon into Syria. Despite his detention and the reporters surrounding him, Timmerman appeared calm and unfazed by his ordeal.

Timmerman explained that he had been in Europe before beginning his pilgrimage, eventually crossing from Lebanon into Syria in late May. However, he was spotted by a border guard and subsequently detained.

He said the Friday calls to prayer helped him keep track of the days.

Timmerman said he was released Monday morning alongside a young Syrian man and 70 female prisoners—some accompanied by their children—following a dramatic turn of events in which rebels seized control of Damascus and ousted Assad from power.

Timmerman said that he was freed by "the liberators who came into the prison and knocked the door down (of his cell) with a hammer." Timmerman said he was held separately from Syrian and other Arab prisoners and was unaware of any other Americans being detained at the facility.

Timmerman, a native of Urbana, Missouri—located about 50 miles north of Springfield—graduated with a finance degree from Missouri State University in 2017.

Syria Rebellion

Last weekend, President Bashar al-Assad's government collapsed following a swift offensive by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has been classified as a "foreign terrorist organization" by the U.S. since 2012.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.