SYRIA – Opposition forces in Syria turned over American Travis Timmerman to US forces, who was then flown to Jordan, two US officials said Friday. The forces included US military personnel with Operation Inherent Resolve, the US military’s operation against ISIS, a third official said.

The first official said the handover took place at Al-Tanf, a US garrison in Syria where anti-ISIS operations are conducted. “Following the fall of the Assad regime, Travis Timmerman, a U.S. citizen, was freed from a prison near the Syrian capital of Damascus on Dec. 9. CENTCOM is supporting the Department of State in ensuring his safe return,” the second official said.

Speaking to CBS News, Timmerman said he had been detained in a Syrian prison for several months after entering the country without permission, having crossed it’s border with Lebanon. He had decided to travel to Syria for “spiritual purposes,” he told the network. Speaking to CNN on Friday, his mother and stepfather said they had feared the worst after not hearing from their son for seven months. (CNN)