U.S. Navy Veteran and Two Others Charged with Financing ISIS Attack on American Troops
Former Navy seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor and Elias Shamsaldeen, were arrested on June 5, 2026, for allegedly conspiring to provide over $2,000 in cryptocurrency to an FBI source they believed was an ISIS member. The funds were intended to purchase drones and rocket-propelled grenades for attacks on U.S. Special Forces overseas. The FBI identified the suspects through pro-ISIS social media posts. Ghafoor acknowledged the act as treason and expressed violent fantasies, including killing 300,000 Americans.
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U.S. Sailor and Two Others Charged with Financing ISIS Attack on American Troops
A U.S. Navy seaman, Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, were arrested by the FBI on charges of attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members. The FBI identified the suspects as ISIS sympathizers after alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source infiltrated their group chat, where Shamsaldeen expressed desire to injure U.S. troops and travel overseas to fight for ISIS. Ghafoor acknowledged the payments constituted treason but proceeded anyway, also stating he fantasized about killing a female soldier by beheading and wanted to kill 300,000 Americans. Dzayee enlisted in 2021 and served on the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024.
Army TimesFormer sailor charged with attempting to finance ISIS attack on US troops
A federal court has charged former U.S. Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for allegedly providing over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member. The trio intended the money to fund the purchase of rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members overseas. Dzayee served aboard the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024. The FBI identified the suspects as ISIS sympathizers after alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source, whom the suspects believed to be an active ISIS member, communicated with them from May 2025. The suspects paid money between March and May 2026. Ghafoor reportedly acknowledged the payments as treason and expressed desires to kill 300,000 Americans. The arrests highlight ongoing domestic terrorism threats.
Army TimesU.S. Sailor and Two Others Charged in ISIS Conspiracy to Kill American Troops
A U.S. Navy sailor, Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, have been charged in federal court for allegedly attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio reportedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed was an ISIS member, intending the money to be used to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members. The FBI identified the suspects as ISIS sympathizers after alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source, whom the suspects believed to be an active ISIS member, infiltrated their communications. During the transactions, Ghafoor acknowledged the payments were treason but proceeded, and also expressed fantasies of killing a female soldier by beheading and killing 300,000 Americans. Dzayee enlisted in the Navy in 2021 and served aboard the USS John McCain until July 2024.
Navy TimesFormer sailor charged with attempting to finance ISIS attack on US troops
A federal court has charged former U.S. Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to fund rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members. The FBI identified the suspects as ISIS sympathizers after alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source, whom the suspects believed to be an active ISIS member, infiltrated their communications. During the transaction, Ghafoor acknowledged the act as treason but proceeded. The suspects discussed plans to pledge allegiance to ISIS, travel overseas to fight, and commit violent acts, including beheading a female soldier. Dzayee served on the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024 before separating from the Navy.
Marine Corps TimesFormer US Navy sailor charged with financing ISIS attack on American troops overseas
A federal court has charged former US Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American service members overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder US troops. The FBI identified the suspects as ISIS sympathizers after alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source infiltrated their group chat, where Shamsaldeen expressed desire to injure US service members and travel overseas to fight for ISIS. Ghafoor acknowledged the payments constituted treason but proceeded. Dzayee served on the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024 before separating from the Navy. The arrests occurred on Friday, with charges filed Thursday.
Air Force TimesFormer US Navy sailor charged with attempting to finance ISIS attack on American troops
A federal court has charged former U.S. Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for allegedly attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to be used to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members. The FBI arrested them on June 9, 2026, after identifying them as ISIS sympathizers through social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source infiltrated their group chat, where Shamsaldeen expressed a desire to injure U.S. service members and travel overseas to fight for ISIS. Ghafoor acknowledged the payments constituted treason but proceeded anyway, also stating he fantasized about killing a female soldier by beheading and wanted to kill 300,000 Americans. Dzayee served aboard the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024 before separating from the Navy.
Navy TimesFormer US Navy sailor charged with financing ISIS plot to attack American troops overseas
A federal court has charged former U.S. Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed was an ISIS member, intending the money to be used to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members. The FBI arrested them after identifying the suspects as ISIS sympathizers through alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source infiltrated their communications, and the suspects paid money between March and May 2026. Ghafoor reportedly acknowledged the transactions as treason but proceeded, and expressed fantasies about killing Americans. Dzayee served aboard the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024 before separating from the Navy. The case highlights ongoing domestic terrorism threats linked to foreign extremist groups.
Military TimesFormer US Navy sailor charged with financing ISIS attack on American troops overseas
A federal court has charged former U.S. Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members. The FBI identified the suspects as ISIS sympathizers after alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026, in which they pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization and discussed weapons and explosives. A confidential FBI source infiltrated their group chat, where Shamsaldeen expressed desire to injure U.S. service members and travel overseas to fight for ISIS. Ghafoor acknowledged the transaction would be treason but proceeded, also stating he fantasized about killing a female soldier by beheading and wanted to kill 300,000 Americans. Dzayee served aboard the USS John McCain from March 2022 to July 2024 before separating from the Navy.
Military TimesUS Navy sailor charged with financing ISIS attack plot against American troops
A federal court has charged US Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder US service members. The FBI arrested the suspects on Friday after identifying them as ISIS sympathizers through alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source, whom the suspects believed to be an active ISIS member, engaged them in May 2025. During the transaction, Ghafoor acknowledged the act was treason but proceeded, and reportedly expressed fantasies of killing a female soldier by beheading and killing 300,000 Americans. Dzayee enlisted in the Navy in 2021 and served aboard the USS John McCain until July 2024.
Air Force TimesFormer US Navy sailor charged with financing ISIS attack on American troops
A federal court has charged former U.S. Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to be used to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members. The FBI arrested them on June 5, 2026, after identifying them as ISIS sympathizers through social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source infiltrated their group chat, where Shamsaldeen expressed desire to injure U.S. troops and travel overseas to fight for ISIS. Ghafoor acknowledged the payments constituted treason but proceeded anyway, also stating he fantasized about killing a female soldier by beheading and wanted to kill 300,000 Americans. Dzayee served aboard the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024 before separating from the Navy.
Army TimesFormer US Navy sailor charged with financing ISIS attack on American troops
Former US Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, have been charged by federal court for attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder US service members. The FBI identified the suspects as ISIS sympathizers after alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source posing as an ISIS member communicated with the suspects from May 2025. Ghafoor acknowledged the payments constituted treason but proceeded anyway, and reportedly expressed fantasies of killing a female soldier by beheading and killing 300,000 Americans. Dzayee served aboard the USS John McCain from March 2022 to July 2024 before separating from the Navy.
Navy TimesFormer US Navy sailor charged with financing ISIS attack on American troops overseas
The FBI arrested former US Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for allegedly providing over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member. The money was intended to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder US service members overseas. The trio communicated over several years about supporting ISIS, pledged allegiance to the terrorist organization, and discussed weapons and explosives. A confidential FBI source infiltrated their social media group chat in May 2025. Ghafoor acknowledged the transaction was treason but proceeded anyway, and reportedly fantasized about killing a female soldier by beheading and killing 300,000 Americans. Dzayee served on the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024 before separating from the Navy. The charges were filed in federal court on Thursday, with arrests made on Friday.
Marine Corps TimesFormer sailor charged with attempting to finance ISIS attack on US troops
A federal court has charged former U.S. Navy Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, for attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to purchase rocket-propelled grenades and drones to murder U.S. service members. The FBI arrested them on Friday after identifying them as ISIS sympathizers through alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source, whom the suspects believed to be an active ISIS member, infiltrated their communications. During the transaction, Ghafoor acknowledged the act as treason but proceeded, also expressing fantasies of killing a female soldier by beheading and wanting to kill 300,000 Americans. Dzayee served aboard the USS John McCain from 2022 to 2024 before separating from the Navy.
Air Force TimesU.S. Sailor and Two Others Charged with Conspiring to Finance ISIS Attack on American Troops
A U.S. Navy sailor, Seaman Bareen Dzayee, 25, along with Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, and Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, have been charged with attempting to finance an ISIS attack against American troops overseas. The trio allegedly provided over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be an ISIS member, intending the money to be used for purchasing rocket-propelled grenades and drones to kill U.S. service members. The FBI identified the suspects as ISIS sympathizers after alarming social media posts between March 2025 and January 2026. A confidential FBI source, whom the suspects believed to be an active ISIS member, infiltrated their communications. During the transaction, Ghafoor acknowledged the act as treason and expressed fantasies of killing a female soldier by beheading and killing 300,000 Americans. Dzayee enlisted in the Navy in 2021 and served aboard the USS John McCain until July 2024.
Military TimesNavy veteran accused of trying to use crypto to send ISIS money for drone, RPG attack on US troops
Bareen Dzayee, a 25-year-old former Navy sailor who served on the USS John S. McCain, was arrested on June 5, 2026, along with Bisaam Ghafoor and Elias Shamsaldeen, for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. According to a Justice Department complaint, the three men communicated over several months about supporting ISIS, including pledging allegiance to the group. Dzayee and Ghafoor allegedly offered to send over $2,000 in cryptocurrency to a confidential human source they believed was an ISIS member, intended to purchase drones and rocket-propelled grenades for an attack on U.S. troops overseas. Dzayee suggested targeting U.S. Special Forces with a drone attack. The FBI identified the men through their pro-ISIS social media posts. The defendants expressed concern about being caught and attempted to disguise the transaction as a charitable donation. The complaint does not indicate if they have legal representation.
Task & PurposeNavy veteran accused of trying to use crypto to send ISIS money for drone, RPG attack on US troops
Bareen Dzayee, a 25-year-old former Navy seaman who served on the USS John S. McCain, was arrested on June 5, 2026, along with Bisaam Ghafoor and Elias Shamsaldeen, for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. According to a Justice Department complaint, the three men communicated over several months about supporting ISIS, pledging allegiance to the group. Dzayee and Ghafoor allegedly offered to send over $2,000 in cryptocurrency to a confidential human source they believed was an ISIS member, intended to purchase drones and rocket-propelled grenades for attacks on U.S. troops overseas, specifically targeting U.S. Special Forces. The FBI identified the suspects through pro-ISIS social media posts. The men expressed concern about getting caught and attempted to disguise the transaction as a charity donation. The complaint details failed cryptocurrency transfers and discussions about sending funds through various methods.
Task & PurposeNavy veteran accused of trying to use crypto to send ISIS money for drone, RPG attack on US troops
Bareen Dzayee, a 25-year-old former Navy sailor, was arrested on June 5, 2026, along with Bisaam Ghafoor and Elias Shamsaldeen, for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. According to a Justice Department complaint, the three men communicated over several months about plans to support the terrorist group, including pledging allegiance to its leader. Dzayee and Ghafoor allegedly offered to send over $2,000 in cryptocurrency to a confidential human source they believed was an ISIS member, intended to purchase drones and rocket-propelled grenades for an attack on U.S. troops overseas. Dzayee suggested targeting U.S. Special Forces. The FBI identified the men through social media posts supporting ISIS. Dzayee served on the destroyer USS John S. McCain from March 2022 to July 2024.
Task & Purpose