American freed from Syrian prison after Assad's overthrow taken out of country by US military

A U.S. national who was recently set free following a seven-month captivity in a Syrian penitentiary has been evacuated from the nation aboard a U.S. military helicopter as verified by a U.S. official who chose to remain undisclosed.

Travis Timmerman, part of the cohort of detainees liberated by insurgents who ousted former President Bashar al-Assad, disclosed post-release that he had ventured into the country illicitly during a Christian pilgrimage seven months earlier, subsequently getting apprehended. 

According to remarks given to The Associated Press, he, along with another Syrian individual, was emancipated by the “liberators” together with approximately 70 women, some of whom were confined with their offspring.

Timmerman said that he wasn’t treated badly while he was held in the infamous Syrian intelligence facility known as Palestine Branch. 

In the video, a bearded Timmerman was lying on a mattress under a blanket in what appeared to be a private house. A group of men in the video said he was being treated well and would be safely returned home, The Associated Press reported.

Palestine Branch, also known as Branch 235, houses nearly a dozen buildings hidden behind high concrete walls, according to The New York Times. 

Human Rights Watch reported more than a decade ago that prisoners there were subjected to torture, including electrocutions and beatings. 

“The guards hung me by my wrists from the ceiling for eight days,” a former prisoner told the organization in 2012. “After a few days of hanging, being denied sleep, it felt like my brain stopped working. I was imagining things. My feet got swollen on the third day. I felt pain that I have never felt in my entire life. It was excruciating. I screamed that I needed to go to a hospital, but the guards just laughed at me.”

Many prisoners would also die of illnesses or starvation under the deplorable conditions. 

Bashar al-Assad

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebels over the weekend. (Getty Images)

At another notorious Syrian prison known as Sednaya, The Free Press, in collaboration with the Center for Peace Communications, also discovered testimonies of torture and executions while investigating it after the fall of Assad’s regime this week. 

“They would call out names at dawn, strip the prisoners of their clothes, and take them away,” a former inmate told The Free Press. “We knew from the sound of chains on the platforms that these were executions. Condemned prisoners wouldn’t be fed for three days prior. Once a month, they would search us. During one such search, an officer declared, ‘We’re not here to inspect; we’re here to kill.’”

Since the thousands of prisoners were released, loved ones have been searching for signs of those who went missing in the barbaric prisons. 

“We slept on top of each other,” one woman, who said she had been held at Palestine Branch for four and a half months in 2020 along with dozens of other women, told The New York Times. “They did not feed us, they beat us.”

Fox News’ Stephen Sorace and The Associated Press contributed to this report.  

You May Also Like
Alabama kindergarten teacher, 49, accused of enticing teen into bathroom for sexual encounter

49-year-old kindergarten teacher in Alabama allegedly lured teenager into a bathroom for a sexual activity

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! An Alabama kindergarten “Teacher…
President Trump banned travel from 12 countries, but included some exceptions to avoid legal battles

President Trump prohibited travel from 12 nations but made specific exemptions to prevent legal disputes.

MIAMI — The administration has implemented a new travel ban affecting citizens…
Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera remembered by community after fatal Chatham shooting on South Drexel Avenue during operation

Community honors memory of Chicago Police Officer Krystal Rivera following deadly Chatham shooting on South Drexel Avenue while on duty

CHICAGO (WLS) — The community is remembering a 36-year-old mother and Chicago…
Maniac killed and dismembered 19-year-old college student on their first date

Maniac kills and dismembers college student on first date

A 19-year-old college student was killed and dismembered by a man from…
The silent bloodbath that's tearing through the middle-class and rapidly flipping the US economy on its head

“Unseen Crisis: Middle-Class suffering and Economic Instability in the US”

Two years ago, Elon Musk and numerous other tech experts penned an…
Donald Trump arrives at UFC 316 with one-man entourage Dana White months after sitting cageside with Elon Musk

“A Night to Remember: Donald Trump Attends UFC 316 with Dana White as Sole Companion”

President Donald Trump was the guest of honor at UFC 316 in…
Jury skepticism of experts could determine outcome in Karen Read murder trial: former judge

Former judge says jury’s doubt about experts may impact Karen Read murder trial result

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Whenever there’s a battle…
College sports changed forever as judge approves groundbreaking move

Judge’s Approval Marks a Landmark Change in College Sports

The settlement in the House v. NCAA case, approved by Judge Claudia…
Iconic star of The Goonies steps out on rare outing ahead of 40th anniversary of the film

Star from The Goonies movie makes a rare appearance before the film’s 40th anniversary

Fans of The Goonies were pleasantly surprised this week when one of…
Egg recall over salmonella outbreak linked to several states, including Illinois, California, Arizona, Indiana

Eggs recalled due to salmonella outbreak in multiple states such as Illinois, California, Arizona, and Indiana

The CDC is out with a new alert about a salmonella outbreak…
She was the 90s babe who dated two real-life brothers in different teen sitcoms... can you guess who she is?

Guess the 90s actress who dated two real-life brothers in different teen TV shows!

This 90s babe made headlines and history by romantically linking with two…
Harrowing plight of world's loneliest killer whales and dolphins: Tragic stories behind majestic sea creatures neglected and abused in marine parks

The sad situation of the loneliest killer whales and dolphins in the world: Heartbreaking tales of majestic ocean animals being mistreated and overlooked in aquatic parks.

They swim in dizzying circles, they go blind and they die slowly. …