Ex-Navy Sailor Among Three Arrested for Plotting ISIS Attack on US Troops

Former U.S. Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, was among three individuals arrested by the FBI this week on charges of attempting to finance an Islamic State (ISIS) attack against American troops overseas. The suspects also included Bisaam Ghafoor and Elias Shamsaldeen, both aged 21. According to federal authorities, the trio provided over $2,000 to what they believed was an ISIS operative for the purpose of purchasing weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades and drones intended to target U.S. service members.

The FBI identified Dzayee, Ghafoor, and Shamsaldeen as potential threats after monitoring their social media activities between March 2025 and January 2026. The suspects communicated extensively about supporting ISIS through various means, including financial assistance and direct involvement in violent operations against American troops. In May 2025, the FBI established contact with Ghafoor and Shamsaldeen via a confidential source posing as an active ISIS member, facilitating discussions that led to the transfer of funds for purported weapons purchases.

Throughout their communications, the suspects expressed clear intentions to engage in acts of violence against U.S. military personnel both domestically and abroad. Ghafoor admitted during conversations with the FBI source that he knew providing financial support to a terrorist organization constituted treason but continued anyway. The case highlights the ongoing threat posed by domestic sympathizers of extremist groups who seek to harm American service members, underscoring the need for vigilant surveillance and reporting mechanisms within communities.