Syrian authorities have released US citizen Travis Timmerman from Ez-Ziabia prison on the southern outskirts of Damascus, where he had been held after illegally entering the country seven months ago, Al Hadath television reported on December 12.

Timmerman told the network he had entered Syria through smuggling routes from Lebanon, describing himself as a pilgrim seeking to visit religious sites.

"I arrived in Syria seven months ago as a pilgrim to visit religious shrines," he said, adding that he was in good health.

The former Syrian regime of Basher al-Assad arrested the undocumented American and charged him with espionage.

The release drew attention due to Timmerman's physical resemblance to Austin Tice, an American journalist who disappeared in Syria in 2012.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller confirmed that Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens is in Beirut and is making "intensive efforts" to locate and return Tice.

“Under direct orders from the General Command, American journalist Travis Timmerman has been released and secured, and a search is underway for American citizen Austin Tice,” the Syrian transitional authority wrote on the discovery of the captive.

It added “We affirm our readiness to cooperate directly with the US administration to complete the search for American citizens disappeared by the former Assad regime.”

Tice, a former US Marine who reported for The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, vanished near Damascus in 2012.

The United States has accused Syrian authorities of detaining him, while Damascus has denied these allegations and claimed Washington encouraged its citizens to enter Syria illegally and contact anti-government forces.

The US government website continues to warn American citizens from visiting the country.