Travis Timmerman: US man found near Damascus after months in Syrian prison

Mr Timmerman told CBS that he was detained upon entering Syria seven months ago.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersUS man found wandering near Damascus after months in Syrian prison'It wasn't too bad' - US man on his time in a Syrian prisonA US man, detained for months in a Syrian prison after entering the country on foot, has described being freed by hammer-wielding men as rebels overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

The man - who later identified himself as Travis Timmerman to the BBC's US news partner CBS - was found by residents near the capital Damascus.

It comes as rebels say they intend to close Assad's notoriously harsh prisons and track down those involved in torturing or killing detainees.

"We will pursue them in Syria, and we ask countries to hand over those who fled so we can achieve justice," said rebel leader Ahmed al-Sharaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani.

Footage posted on social media showed Mr Timmerman lying on a sofa as residents spoke to local reporters.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn54xk0vkq5o

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