the us previously had no indication that travis timmerman was even in syria, the white house said, butrelease, the us was working to bring him home and now we are hearing that he has been flown out of syria. around the world and across the uk, this is the world today on bbc news. now let's start to now l

travis timmerman is from urbana missouri, an hour away from springfield. news' ian lee traveled there to speak with his cousin. >> when we first found out he was missing, just the thought of him not coming back was a really hard, really hard thought to kind of swallow, and to find out now that he can and will be coming home. >> reporter: and what's the first thing you are going to do when you see him? >> definitely give him a big old hug and tell him he is not leaving the united states for a long time. [laughs] >> norah: it has been such an ordeal for the timmerman family at a time of uncertainty in the middle east. for more insight, we are joined by "face the nation" moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent margaret brennan. margaret, good to see you, great to have you here. how does what's happening in syria affect u.s. national security? >> margaret: well, the u.s. is trying to suss out if rebel leader mohammad al-jolani and his fighters pose a threat still to u.s. national security. under u.s. law he is a decimated terrorist because of his pas

travis timmerman�*s story is one among tens of thousands from assad's notorious prison system.l will never be told, silenced by the man many syrians see as the biggest criminal of them all. lucy williamson, bbc news, damascus. let's speak to dana stroul who is the former us deputy assistant secretary of defence for the middle east and the director of research at the washington institute. so good to talk to you. let us talk first all about hts and what they have been asking for, and what pressure is on them now. they want to sanctions to be lifted on syria, europe and the us say it is not going to come forfree but the us say it is not going to come for free but there needs to be an element of quid pro quo, how does one move forward with that? ., , quo, how does one move forward with that? . , ., , quo, how does one move forward with that?— with that? pleasure to be with ou, it's with that? pleasure to be with you, it's important _ with that? pleasure to be with you, it's important to - with that? pleasure to be with l you, it's important to remember where hts started, it's leade

travis timmerman�*s story is one among tens of thousands from assad's notorious prison system.ll never be told, silenced by the man many syrians see as the biggest criminal of them all. lucy williamson, bbc news, damascus. robert baer is a former cia case officer with experience in the middle east, including syria. he told me what he believes was the tipping point that led to president assad's downfall. i've been working on syria going back to 1979, in and out of the country. i've worked with the muslim brotherhood, i've worked with the regime, i was a back channel to the syrian government at one point when i was in the cia. and more recently the fbi. so i do you have a sense of the history of the country and where it is going. the insiders who have come out — and a lot of them had fled to beirut and are there right now — and they have told me that the turning point was the assassination of hassan nasrallah, the head of hezbollah, as they told me he was bashar�*s strategic mind and once he was gone things started falling apart. hezbollah, as i know, driving into the country, wa

travis timmerman�*s story is one among tens of thousands from assad's notorious prison system. neighbourhood are telling us that they found a foreigner wandering in the streets outside. they said he was in fairly good condition, but they brought him here and gave him some food and some water. they said he was very hungry and talking in english, but they couldn't understand what he was saying, and they didn't know exactly who he was. they showed us the selfies they had taken with him as the militia now in charge here looked on. translation: they found him barefoot on the road. - he kept repeating that he was held by military intelligence in damascus. we helped him, offered him food, treated him well as a human being without any consideration of his that the turning point was the assassination of hassan nasrallah, the head of hezbollah, as they told me he was bashar�*s strategic mind and once he was gone things started falling apart. hezbollah, as i know, driving into the country, was a key pillar of the assad regime. and of course when the war starts in southern lebanon they're

travis timmerman�*s story is one among tens of thousands from assad's notorious prison system., silenced by the man many syrians see as the biggest criminal of them all. lucy williamson, bbc news, damascus. let's rejoinjeremy, who's in the syrian capital. jeremy, parliament and the constitution suspended for the next three months. what might that tell us about the new leadership? well, clive, the parliament was a rubber stamp for the assad regime, whose members use to compete to praise him on the occasions when he deigned to appear in their chamber. the constitution, clearly, was no good at all in terms of protecting any syrians, so potentially that could be a good move, to rebuild something new. the question is what they put in its place. now, hts, the militia that overthrew the regime, is an islamist group that broke from al-qaeda in 2016, so clearly people are wondering whether that change, that conversion, was genuine. here in damascus, people have been going around to the minority religious groups, christians and so on, and saying to them, reassuring them that there will b

american travis timmerman handed over to the u.s. after months in a syrian prison as huge crowds celebrate the end to the assad family's decades long rule, plus, the new details about how the deposed leader fled the country. >> gio: drone mystery deepens. more and more sightings in the northeast. local leaders demanding answers and more help from the federal government. >> they need to let us know if it's their equipment, if our government owns this, and that's it. >> gio: the warnings about approaching any downed drones. ♪ have a holly jolly christmas ♪ >> whit: and the holly, jolly shopping countdown. "gma" checking out the most-searched-for gifts on google. how to get the best price and get them under the tree in time. ♪ have a holly jolly christmas and when you walk down the street ♪ ♪ say hello to friends you know ♪ >> janai: good morning, america. you guys are just jamming. >> whit: i mean, we got the christmas tunes going. >> janai: we do. >> gio: it's a jolly christmas. >> janai: we do. it's jolly, holly, jolly -- ♪ somebody

travis timmerman had been taken in by a syrian family. in this video, appearing to be in good health. well h we have learned he is a missouri native. tonight, what he reveals here. what he heard in that prison while being held in his cell. and tonight, our james longman making his way to one of former president bashar al assad's homes, and what james was shown underneath that home. james longman from syria again tonight. >> reporter: these are the first images tonight of a missing american found alive in syria. travis timmerman, seen laying down, surrounded by a group of men. lying in this corner here as he was lying under the blanket. the missouri native was found walking barefoot in the street following the fall of the assad regime, after rebel fighters broke him out of prison, where he'd been held for seven months. >> i was in prison in a cell by myself and in the early morning of this monday, the monday of this week, they took a hammer and they broke my door down. >> reporter: timmerman vanished from hungary earlier this year and says

his name is travis timmerman, and he says he was on a spiritual journey when he disappeared into a syrian prison seven months ago. >> they came with a hammer and knocked my door in. there was two men with a gun and another man, and they helped me get out. >> reporter: identifying himself as travis timmerman, he said he spent the last seven months in one of the country's notorious prisons. >> it wasn't bad. i was never beaten. the only really bad part was i couldn't go to the bathroom when i wanted to. >> reporter: timmerman says he was detained after entering the country illegally on a christian pilgrimage. after rebels overthrew the assad government, local men broke down the prison doors. cbs news' elizabeth palmer found timmerman in a house outside damascus. >> when i came to syria, i was unaware of the political situation entirely. because that's just how i am. i came here for spiritual purposes. >> reporter: his family had reported him missing over the summer and called his appearance the best christmas gift. >> i just busted out crying. i called her up, "i've seen the video, it's him

travis timmerman is one of the thousands of prisoners streaming out of syrian prisons since the fall of dictator bashar al assad. as ian lee reports, the biden administration is now working to bring him home. >> reporter: as the dust clears from the political upheaval in syria, an american has made a surprise appearance. >> in the middle of the night or early morning, they came with a hammer and knocked my door in and there was two men with guns and then there was another man and they helped me get out of prison. >> reporter: identifying himself as travis timmerman, he said he'd spent the last seven months in one of the country's notorious prisons. >> it wasn't bad. i was never beaten. the only really bad part was i couldn't go to the bathroom when i wanted to. >> reporter: timmerman says he was detained after entering the country illegally on a christian pilgrimage. after rebels overthrew the assad government, local men blew down the prison doors. timmerman was found outside a house in damascus. >> when i came to syria, i was unaware of the political situation entirely because that'

travis timmerman flying to jordan. his parents back in missouri. >> my heart's been broken since, you know, he's been gone. now, i'm happy. >> reporter: across syria today, thousands celebrating. the first friday prayers in more than 50 years without an assad in power. how does it feel seeing everybody celebrating today? >> they're fantastically happy. we can feel the breath of freedom. >> reporter: freedom from a tyrant whose crimes are only now being fully discovered. tonight, proof of the huge drug dealing business that kept him in power and allowed him to afford some of the most expensive homes and cars like this garage full of lamborghinis and ferraris seen in videos circulating online. like a cartel kingpin, the stimulant helped fund assad's lavish lifestyle and the corruption that fuelled his allegiance with hezbollah. there are crates ready to be transported here. each pill is worth as much as $20, making this haul potentially worth millions. we're learning new details tonight on how bashar al assad escaped. u.

matt, i want to know first we learned about another american, travis timmerman.s story earlier this week when we met up with him in da mascus damascus, a free man. he's been flown from syria back to the u.s., which is good news for his family. i want to ask about austin tice. he's the reporter nbc news has new reporting about, a sighting of him in 2022. talk to me about richard engel saw in a prison where he was maybe held. >> reporter: richard engel reports speaking to an activist who was held in the cell across the way, or he claimed across the hall way from austin tice in damascus. he said in this miserable looking cell that austin tice had been there for a while. looks like it was a painful place to live. this activist who spoke to richard engel got the details of this correct. it could be believed. we just heard from reuters quoting american officials saying that actually austin tice had escaped and run around a wealthy neighborhood here in clothes and was eventually recaptured and sent back to the regime's jail. that's two new bits about austin tice as the

travis timmerman, who was found by residents near the capital damascus, said he had been arrested when. lucy williamson reports. prisoner of the old syria. poster child for the new one. travis timmerman, an american from missouri, released by rebel forces on monday as they swept president assad from power. in the middle of the night or early morning, they came with a hammer and knocked my door in, and there was two men with guns. and then there was another man named eli. and they helped me get out of prison and helped me get into damascus. the men who found him put this video on social media saying he was in safe hands and had been checked by a doctor after seven months in the custody of assad's military intelligence. it wasn't too bad. it wasn't bad. i was never beaten. the only really bad part was that i couldn't go to the bathroom when i wanted to. timmerman was found wandering through this damascus suburb today by syrians celebrating freedom themselves. locals here in this neighbourhood are telling us that they found a foreigner wandering in the streets outside. they said he was in

travis timmerman, seen laying down, surrounded by a group of men. lying in this corner here as he was lying under the blanket. the missouri native was found walking barefoot in the street following the fall of the assad regime, after rebel fighters broke him out of prison, where he'd been held for seven months. >> i was in prison in a cell by myself, and in the early morning of this monday, the monday of this week, they took a hammer and they broke my door down. >> reporter: timmerman vanished from hungary earlier this year and says he was arrested after illegally crossing into syria from lebanon on a christian pilgrimage. describing the horrors of life behind bars in syria. >> did you hear the voices of torture, for syrians in the prisons? >> yes, i could hear the interrogations and the beatings. >> reporter: late today, i spoke with timmerman's mother, stacy, and stepfather, richard. >> happy tears. >> yeah. >> it was -- it was great. >> like, this is going to be the best christmas ever. >> reporter: timmerman was initially mistaken for austin tic

he is 29 year old travis timmerman of missouri. we talked to you about him yesterday. this is what he told nbc. >> i was in prison for seven months after that i entered into the syrian border illegally. i crossed the mountains between lebanon and syria and joining me now are the mother and stepfather of travis, stacy and richard gardiner. >> thank you guys so much for being with us. we really appreciate it. i can't imagine what you're going through right now. you must feel a total range of emotions here. stacy. let me start with you. your mom here. i mean, you just. you must be so relieved to know that your son is. your son is okay yes, i am. >> yeah. >> i, um. >> what's it been like for you um i didn't. >> happy. um. excited. um i've. i don't, i just wish he'd just call me and and, um. i'm thankful that, you know, they found him. >> and you just didn't know what was going on with him for all these months. is that correct? >> no, i didn't. >> my goodness. and, richard, you both haven't spoken to travis yet. um, i guess you've got a lot to talk about. >> yeah, we haven'

and found him. >> my name is travis, and i'm from missouri. >> travis timmerman had been in prison ford crossed syria's border illegally back in the spring on a christian pilgrimage and been arrested. what is the hardest part of your being in prison? >> there really -- there wasn't a hard part. well, it wasn't too bad. >> reporter: really? >> it wasn't bad. i was never beaten. the only really bad part was that i couldn't go to the bathroom when i wanted to. i was only let out three times a day to go to the bathroom. so that was quite the hardship. >> reporter: prisoners across syria bolted from captivity on monday, and timmerman was among them. unaware that syria's dictator had bolted too. the men who freed you are the fighters who have just come down from idlib. so they've taken all the main cities in syria. they're now in control. did you know that? >> no. all i've heard is that the old president is -- he left, and that there is a new -- new government. >> reporter: you got more than you bargained for maybe. >> well, i'm here. >> reporter: you're arrive? >> yeah. >> reporter: when th

travis timmerman's story is one among tens of thousands from assad's notorious prison system. many more brutal will never be told, silenced by the man many syrians see as the biggest criminal of them all. lucy williamson, bbc news, damascus. syria's capital saw hundreds of people march on the streets for the funeral procession of the activist who had been an outspoken critic of assad and brutally tortured by officials. among dozens of people found deadin among dozens of people found dead in the notorious prison. our correspondent was at the march and sent this report along and be warned, this contains upsetting images. "oh, my boy, my baby. "you were only 19," cries a mother who's just found the disfigured body of her teenage son, who until today was one of tens of thousands who disappeared under bashar assad's regime. now his family knows what happened. ahmad was tortured and killed in prison. those still searching would give anything to have closure. "i wish i could see my son, even if it's his dead body, "so i can bury him and i will know which grave "my son is in," this wo

it actually wasn't austin tice, as we now know it was travis timmerman from missouri. we know that he told some journalists and people who went to the scene that he had been held in a prison for seven months. he said that he did not experience any bad treatment during that time, which is very different, obviously, from the accounts that we saw in this piece that we just watched. now, the u.s. government has said that it is now trying to get him out of the country. they're not giving any details as to how they are doing that or what route they are taking, but still clearly a lot of people, particularly the family of austin tice, waiting desperately for some more news as to his whereabouts. he was taken in 2012, captured by the regime. the interim government here in syria has come out and told the u.s. government that they will do whatever they can to try to help locate missing americans and get them back home as soon as possible. >> anderson, if they find him. clarissa ward, thank you. well, up next, how an online artificial intelligence tutor developed by a well-known

the man spoke with reporters and identified himself as travis timmerman.he's joining us from did he ama. matt, what did he tell you and how did he end up behind bars in syria? >> reporter: travis timmerman was noted to be missing in missouri earlier this year. he was last seen in budapest. it was there he started his long strange journey that ended up in syria in a prison, in one of the world's most notoriously cruel police states. his name is travis and he was found in syria. he told me he had been released from captivity. the syrians said they found him barefoot walking down the road. he was living in the mountains for three days without food before he was found. he was on a pill gra midge to damascus. when asked if he wanted to speak to his family, he said no and he was up for taking more questions. he was quite calm describing the months of captivity he endured. families in syria and across the world have waited desperately to see who emerges from the prisons. the united states is scrambling to find more information about americans in syria, including

richard, you spoke to travis timmerman.u tell us about why he wasas there in syria and how his condition? >> reporter: well, this is a bizarre story. everything that's happening at this moment is quite surreal and strange. the government has collapsed. the prisons have been emptied. this was a orship run by a family dynasty for half a century. all of the secrets, all the tension that was bottled up here for so many decades is pouring out. we were this morning trying to find out more information about another missing american, the journalist austin tice, when suddenly word came that a group of syrians, an unknown group, had discoverered th american wandering barefoot on the street. we went to the location. it took a little bit of time to figure out who this person was and where he was. when we got there with some of the new rebels, we found travis. he was in good health, remarkably calm. he told us that he had come into the country on a spiritual journey by himself. he walked over the border. he spent three days living, he s

the us military has flown american travis timmerman out of syria, where he was imprisoned by the assadseven months. mr timmerman was attempting to pass through the country as part of a "spiritualjourney" before he was detained. the 29—year—old was among thousands of prisoners released by rebel forces after the fall of bashar al—assad's regime on sunday. the notorious prisons have been described by human rights groups as a "slaughterhouse". elsewhere, us secretary of state antony blinken is making diplomatic rounds, urging countries in the region to support a peaceful transition of power in syria. it's his twelfth visit to the middle east since the war between israel and hamas erupted last year. during an unannounced visit to iraq earlier today, mr blinken met with iraqi prime minister mohammed shiaa al—sudani in baghdad, in a coordinated effort to work with a key regional partner to fight extremism. as syria transitions from the asai disc in her —— dictatorship totally democracy, does so in a way that of course protects all of the minorities in syria, that produces an inclusive nonsect

official said that travis timmerman was brought to u.s.at a syrian base and then was flown to jordan. he was attempting to pass through syria after -- through a spiritual journey before he was detained. the 29-year-old was among thousands released by rebel forces after the fall of assad's regime. thousands of syrians have taken to the streets to celebrate the downfall of the regime, on what is being called victory day. images from damascus and other city show people gathering nearly a week after the president fled to moscow following a surprise military event. israel is signaling that it will temporarily signal troops at a u.n. buffer zone for several months to secure the border. our international editor, jeremy, reports. jeremy: this ancient city has seen countless upheavals over five millennia. for modern syria with its old flag restored, nothing matches the fall of the assads. the end of the week since -- without and assad in charge since 1970 brought thousands of syrians into the mosque to pray for their relief --here relief. the chant

task force, mouaz moustafa, also told cnn that they're going to do whatever they can to help travis timmerman get in touch with his family here in the u.s. with american forces or american diplomats. >> but we understand from mustafa that timmerman had been freed from a prison and that he was actually walking around in southern damascus on foot, that he had been walking for around 13 miles, and the facility that he had been held in was one called the palestine branch. it's a well-known branch of the syrian military intelligence. and you saw there that he's been speaking with reporters. and he, in fact, told nbc that the reason he had gone to damascus in the first place was for a pilgrimage. and he said that his lord had sent him to damascus. here's a little bit more of what he had to say. >> after that, i entered into the syrian border illegally. i crossed the mountains between lebanon and syria, and i was living in that mountain for three days and three nights. and i was seen by a border guard whilst i did that. and then that's when i was arrested. i was sitting. uh, a syrian prison called p

in a house near damascus we met an american, travis timmerman, who had entered syria illegally and being locked up in an assad jail since may. you got more than you bargained for, didn't you? this. >> well, i'm here. >> reporter: you're alive? >> yeah. >> reporter: he is a lucky man. as soon as the regime fell, local people set him and the rest of the prisoners free. at the ancient mosque, the fighters leader was welcomed a conquering hero. he's changed his look from the old days when he was affiliated with al qaeda and a master of modern messaging, he posted on x, too, in vieting all syrians to join in rebuilding the country. his inner circle has promised elections in march, but not everyone buys it. rumors are spreading like wildfire that no matter what they say, these men mean to rule like al qaeda 2.0. syrians are afraid, especially the christian and alawite minorities, that when the dust settles they'll find that a new tyranny has simply replaced the old. >> that's elizabeth palmer in damascus. we spoke with the executive director of the u.n.'s world food program cindy mccain last w

the man is identifying himself as travis timmerman of missouri. the 29 year old told reporters in syria that he had been recently freed from jail. nbc news got a chance to interview him this morning, and here's what he said how long have you been in prison and how did you get out? >> what happened when you got out? >> i was in prison for seven months after that i entered into the syrian border illegally. i crossed the mountains between lebanon and syria, and i was living in that mountain for three days and three nights. and i was seen by a border guard. whilst i did that and then that's when i was arrested. i was sent to, uh, a syrian prison called philip. philistine and and you're an american. >> where are you from in america? yes, sir. yes, sir. you're from missouri? yes. who were you working for? which agency? >> let's listen. let's have a sir. >> order. you're not a reporter. what were you doing crossing into syria sir? >> i was, uh, on a pilgrimage. a pilgrimage to where? to damascus. my lord sent me to damascus. i understand, sir, so what is

we saw james longman talking about travis timmerman, a resident of your state.had any contact with him or his family? >> i haven't. it's positive news, of course, and we're happy to see that revelation and of course, there's a lot more that's going to unfold there, but i think president trump's been clear as far as us intervening there. i don't think that's a situation that we should do, but i do think diplomacy will be important especially in these critical hours in the aftermath of the -- of assad being overthrown. >> george: the president has said -- president-elect has said we're not going to intervene there. the united states should have nothing to do with it, but we are there right now. there are u.s. troops in syria conducting counterterrorism operations against isis. do you think they should remain? >> i think that's a longer discussion and a discussion that president trump had in his first term. i think we're entering a new phase though of realism in this country. president trump will be less interventionist, and we get back to our core national interes

citizen that went missing in hungary has turned up in damascus, travis timmerman, a missouri native, 29 years old, a u.s. citizen, was found disoriented, barefoot and wandering south of damascus in a field. >> he has spoken to media. he has spoken to residents in the area. i want you to take a listen to this interview with nbc to get a sense of his state of being after that, i entered into the syrian border illegally. >> i crossed the mountains between lebanon and syria, and i was living in that mountain for three days and three nights. and i was seen by a border guard. whilst i did that. and then that's when i was arrested. i was sent to a, uh, a syrian prison called philip. philistine. >> now, as you heard there, timmerman does admit that he illegally crossed into syria from lebanon under the very tight control of president bashar al-assad's regime. anyone crossing into syria would absolutely be stopped by security forces. that's what took place a few days after he arrived in syria. timmerman was then taken to a regime prison. he was held there for seven months. he says he was trea

travis timmerman, he's 29 years old from missouri. you're right, he appeared to be on a religious journey. and what he said is that he crossed from lebanon into syria. he admits that he did it illegally on foot, that it took him several days. and then he was detained by the syrian security forces. he was then, we believe, released in one of these many prisons that have since been freed. and he was found wandering around, apparently, according to one syrian activist, he walked for some 13 miles barefoot. he says that he was held in what is known as the palestine branch of the syrian military intelligence. this is a well-known facility, and that it was his lord, he said, who sent him to damascus on this pilgrimage? this is what he told nbc news. >> after that i entered into the syrian border illegally. i crossed the mountains between lebanon and syria, and i was living in that mountain for three days and three nights. and i was seen by a border guard. whilst i did that. and then that's when i was arrested. i was sent to a, uh, a syrian

in a small house packed with rebels, aid workers and journalists, and there on the floor was travis timmerman from missouri. as i pushed in, i knocked our microphone, making it buzz. what is it, seven months that you've been here? >> yes, i was in prison for okay. months, but it's been i'm on a pilgrimage, and that's when i was arrested. >> reporter: timmerman says he crossed into syria from lebanon without a visa. what did they say when you were picked up? >> i was interviewed to see if i was a political actor, but then they cleared me, essentially. and then i was just held in prison. i wasn't beaten or anything like that. >> reporter: timmerman was freed on monday when the rebels overthrew the government and broke into jails to free political prisoners. he was found walking barefoot and alone. >> last night i slept outside. and then the night before that i slept with a friend. and the night before that i slept in an abandoned apartment. >> reporter: have you been in touch with your family? >> i haven't, but i plan to do that when i can. >> i was excited. but i was hurt. >> reporter: we spok

there on the floor was travis timmerman from missouri. as i pushed in, i knocked our microphone, making it buzz. seven months you've been here? >> yes, i was imprisoned for seven months. but it's been okay. i'm on a pilgrimage, and that's when i was arrested. >> reporter: timmerman says he crossed into syria from lebanon without a visa. what did they do to you once you were picked up? >> i was -- i was interviewed to see if i was a political actor. but then they cleared me essentially. and then i was just held in prison. i wasn't beaten or anything like that. >> reporter: timmerman was freed on monday when the rebels overthrew the government and broke into jails t to free political prisoners. he was found todayalking barefoot and alone. >> last night i slept outside, and then the night before that i slept with a friend. the night before that i slept in an abandoned apartment. >> reporter: you've been in touch with your family? >> i haven't, but i plan to do that when i can. >> i was excited, but i was hurt. >> reporter: late today we spok

se identificÓ como travis timmerman de missouri y leijo a nuestra cadena hermana nbc news que llevabao en el piso, cubierto con una manta. sus captores huyeron despuÉs de la caÍda del presidente assad. el hombre estaba asustado. llevaba cuatro dÍas sin comida, sin agua. apenas supo que era libre y que podÍa volver a ver a sus hijos. cuando vio la luz del dÍa, se emocionÓ despuÉs de haber estado en cautiverio. el dominicano juan soto estrena la franela de los mets de nueva york y habla por primera vez despuÉs de firmar el contrato mÁs millonario de la historia. mexicanos nos dicen cÓmo se preparan para resistir el llamado maratÓn guadalupe-reyes. vamos y venimos. quÉdese. (mom) nos llevamos 4 líneas por el precio de 3. ahora, ¿qué podríamos hacer con este dinero extra? (dad) no sé. ¿qué haría j balvin? (j balvin) ¿yo? (dad) ¡j balvin! (j balvin) yo lo gastaría a lo grande. ¡lego! ♪ ♪ ¡lego! (vo) llévate 4 líneas por el precio de 3, y ahorra a lo grande. solo en verizon. el spicy chicken sandwich de wendy's es la combinación perfecta of heat and sabor. it's crispy, juicy, ohhhh, ¡es com

meanwhile, travis timmerman, the missouri man who turned up in syria this week, was flown to jordan todayr syrian rebels handed him off to u.s. fores. while many in syria and around the world are celebrating the ousting of dictator bashar al-assad, there is concern about syria's future. cbs's imtiaz tyab is there. [gunfire] >> reporter: this is idlib the de facto capital of hayat tahrir al sham. its fighters, syria's new rulers in waiting. in the city center, the revolutionary flag, a symbol of victory. in 2016, when bashar al-assad's regime forced a rebel retreat many of those fighters and their families came here, already one of the country's most conservative corners. most global western powers including the u.s., have designated hayat tahrir al sham as a terrorist organization, but with the group having now ousted assad and in gain control of damascus, the question these leaders now have is, should they recognize the group? hts leader abu mohammad al-jolani has a $20 million u.s. bounty on his head. he is trying to rebrand the group as moderate by cutting ties with al qaeda and promis

new images of american travis timmerman found alive in syria, now talking about the conditions in prison there. >> i was imprisoned in a cell by myself. >> george: his parents speak to abc news. james longman takes us inside president assad's private residence and the escape tunnel underground. >> rebecca: ceo murder case. the suspect in a pennsylvania cell this morning. abc news learned multiple search warrants have been issued as the new york da presents evidence to a grand jury. >> george: drone mystery. outcry growing about the drones spotted above the northeast. the white house says there's no evidence of a security threat as lawmakers from both sides demand answers. >> michael: new question in the jonbenet ramsey case. this morning, the never before seen clip from barbara walters interview with jonbenet's parents. >> the ransom asked for a weird figure, 1 her parents. $118,000. >> michael: the ransom note found in the house. >> rebecca: in court. morgan wallen facing charges after throwing a chair off the roof of a nashville bar, now taking a plea deal. the sentence he's facing now

looking for tice, and today they handed over another american who'd been held by the assad regime, travis timmerman, to u.s. forces. lester? >> all right, richard engel, thanks. >>> also tonight there is renewed hope for a cease-fire and hostage release deal in gaza. andrea mitchell has our new reporting. andrea, this could happen in the coming weeks or even days. >> exactly, lester. u.s. and israeli officials say there is growing optimism about a deal because hamas has agreed to big concessions. a senior biden official says a big factor was president-elect trump's warning that hamas will have hell to pay if they don't release hostages before he takes office. the biggest factor hamas backers iran and hezbollah have weakened by israel, and assad's regime has collapsed. u.s. and israeli officials tell us hamas has now agreed israeli forces can remain temporarily in parts of gaza. they will release some hostages and account for those remaining, but there is still differences to be resolved. they've been close to a deal before and had it fall apart. lester? >> a major development. all right, andrea, th

travis timmerman was reported missing in missouri. earlier this year. he was last seen in budapest in may, and it was from there that he began his long, strange journey that ended up for months in a syrian prison, one of the most notoriously cruel police states in the world. and i have to tell you, he said that he was well treated and well fed. he said his only complaint really, to me, was that he was having trouble going to the bathroom. now, the syrians who found him said that he was walking down the street barefoot. now he was taking questions from reporters. and actually at one point, people kept asking him if he wanted to talk to his family, and they promised him that they would get him to american custody. he refused both and instead said that he was comfortable there and that he would take more questions from reporters. now, he told me he wasn't a journalist, as had been reported by syrians on social media, the ones who had found him. he said instead that he was a pilgrim, that he had been called by god. he said that he had crossed the border fro

travis timmerman is from missouri. he says he embarked on a christian pilgrimage in june. he started in lebanon and was headed towards damascus on foot. but border guards arrested him at the syrian border. timmerman says he was treated decently, but heard other prisoners being tortured every day. the rebels, who now control damascus, have been freeing prisoners across syria. this morning, syrian locals say they found timmerman wandering around barefoot just outside of damascus. his mom, back in missouri, is, of course, relieved that her baby is alive. it appears they are back on good terms for now. meta is backing the trump administration with $1 million donation. the menlo park based parent company of instagram, facebook and whatsapp said today it donated $1 million to the inaugural fund of president elect trump. it is the latest swing in the up and down relationship between mr. trump and ceo mark zuckerberg. it comes just months after the former president threatened zuckerberg with possible life in prison. during the campaign, if there was any perceived election interfer

travis timmerman is one of the thousands of prisoners streaming out of syrian prisons since the fall

the us military has flown american citizen travis timmerman out of syria, where he was jailed by theseven months. mr timmerman was attempting to pass through the country as part of a "spiritual journey" before he was detained. the 29—year—old was among thousands of prisoners released by rebel forces after the fall of bashar al—assad's regime on sunday. the notorious prisons have been described by human rights groups as a "slaughterhouse". in gaza, the health ministry says more than 80 people have been killed in israeli attacks in the past day as international efforts to secure a ceasefire continue. at least 30 people were killed in an israeli air raid on a post office that was functioning as a shelter for displaced palestnians. an eyewitness described what he saw to reuters. a warning that the details are distressing. translation: we woke up to the sound of a massive, | massive explosion unlike anything we'd heard before. we had heard missile sounds before, but this was a barrel bomb that we work up to. we ran down to the screams of the people and their cry for help, the neighbors. w

the new details come just weeks after another american, travis timmerman, was found in damascus.e was detained back in 2012 at a checkpoint near syria's capital. president biden has said the white house believes the missing journalist is also still alive. families of hostages held by hamas are marking a second holiday season without their loved ones. 101 hostages are still being held in gaza right now. 446 days after hamas's attack on israel. it has been a very, very long journey especially for the father of one hostage who hasn't stopped fighting since his son was taken. thank you for joining us to share your story. it is hard, i know, to hear happy hanukkah. take me back to last night when you lit the first candle and what you were thinking. because in is supposed to be about hope in the middle of immense darkness. do you have hope? >> yes. he is one of the seven u.s. hostages being held by hamas. amount of days that is even longer than the u.s. hostages that were held by iran in 1979. and yesterday was indeed a very difficult day for myself and my family where we sat around ou

officials tell the associated press that travis timmerman has been flown to jordan on a military helicopteroups ousted the country's president assad and began opening the country's infamous presence. the 29-year-old was detained seven months ago after crossing into syria while on a christian pel mortgage -- christian pilgrimage. president loder mayor belinsky -- below tamira zelinski said russia launched a barrage. he described it as one of the heaviest bombardments of the war and the target was the energy sector. ukrainian differences shot down most of the missiles but others struck homes and apartment complexes. in kyiv people took refuge underground to escape the strikes which have grown more frequent as russia's -- as russia tries to cripple ukraine's electrical grid. russian forces have drawn closer to the vital eastern hub of a city that lies in road wins and residents have been forced to flee. >> how would one live here? no power, no heating, no gas, no water. we will leave tomorrow. while the cargo taxis are still running. the russians have already positioned themselves behind our h

you know, there was this really remarkable moment where another american, travis timmerman was founddering in the outskirts of damascus. many thought this could be your son, austin, of course it was not. how did that moment unfold for you? >> so, when i go to sleep, i silence my phone and i really go to sleep. my children don't do that. so my oldest daughter came into my room at 4:25 and said mom, you know, we have this video. you need to look at it. we don't think it's austin, but we don't think it's austin. you know, and kind of waking up out of the fog and you know, i took a glance and i said no. that is not austin. she said yeah, i know, no, mom, it's not austin, but we had to wake you up, we had to ask you about it. of course, we had so many people reaching out. this is so great. what a wonderful day. so it's almost like having a rehearsal, you know? of just an inkling when it will be austin walking free. >> was it a moment of false hope? it was a fleeting moment before you looked at that photo. did it feel like you had false hope? >> the way i've been feeling about the people t

an american found in syria today travis timmerman. he says he was detained after crossing into the country by foot seven months ago. he was freed from prison earlier this week. other desperate families in syria looking for loved ones after rebels freed thousands held in the country's prison nicknamed the human slaughterhouse. trey yengst has a new look inside the infamous and horrific prison system. good morning, trey. >> it is a mix of emotions here in syria. people were celebrating in the streets of damascus earlier. there were israel air strikes in the distance and just a few miles away at this notorious prison families are still searching for information about their loved ones. >> my son is innocent. he was just studying in college this mother cries. her wailing voice pierces the air of this place where hundreds of families search for their loved ones. god willing assad will have the same heartache he has caused us, she adds. him and every single jailer who tortured inoh sents, the english language lacks the word to describe these