An American man, who stated that he entered Syria illegally on foot from Lebanon during a Christian pilgrimage, shared his story with the media on Thursday, following his release after about seven months in a prison in Damascus.

Travis Timmerman, 29, was found by local residents earlier this week, walking barefoot in a suburb located south of the capital city.

Originally reported missing by Hungarian police in June, Timmerman seems to have been released along with thousands of other prisoners as unrest has led to the downfall of President Bashar Assad’s long-standing regime this month.

“They broke down my door, and that woke me up,” Timmerman explained to CBS News, recounting the moment of his release.

“I assumed the guards were still there; I thought the fighting might still be intense But once we left, there was no resistance; everything was calm.”

Details surrounding Timmerman’s time in Hungary remain unclear. He was reported missing from Budapest on May 28. Initially, some residents and journalists in Syria mistakenly identified him as Austin Tice, a journalist who disappeared in Syria over ten years ago while covering the civil war. Recently, Tice’s family expressed confidence that he is still alive, although no evidence has surfaced confirming his whereabouts.

The scenario following Assad’s fall has been tumultuous.

A rebel faction known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which orchestrated the uprising against Assad, was formed from al-Qaida. HTS has declared its intention to govern for the benefit of all Syrians, yet it faces numerous obstacles, including unifying various rebel groups, proving its ability to embrace political diversity, and earning the trust of the global community regarding its commitment to human rights.

On Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Jordan as part of a Middle Eastern trip aimed at fostering an “inclusive, Syrian-led” governing transition in the aftermath of Assad’s ousting. Blinken emphasized U.S. intentions to prevent Syria from becoming a breeding ground for terrorism and a threat to neighboring countries.

During his visit, Blinken will also address ongoing cease-fire negotiations in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, as per comments made by U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Wednesday. This marks Blinken’s 12th visit to the region since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, prompting Israel’s subsequent military response in Gaza.

Timmerman recounted that he was detained by Syrian authorities earlier this year after his entry into the country.

In an interview with NBC News, he shared he had been reading Scripture extensively prior to deciding to cross into Syria from Lebanon. He added that his prison experience “wasn’t too extreme.”

“I was never harmed physically. The worst part was the lack of bathroom access; I was only allowed out three times daily for that,” he explained.

However, Timmerman’s experience is likely not representative of the average situation, as the Assad regime was infamous for its brutal treatment of political prisoners and perceived threats.