Three U.S. citizens have been arrested for allegedly assisting ISIS in carrying out drone attacks against U.S. military personnel.
Federal authorities arrested three U.S. citizens on June 5 in Kansas City, Kansas; San Diego; and Sacramento, California, on charges of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. The individuals charged are Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, of Leawood, Kansas; Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, of Porterville, California; and Bereen Dzayee, 25, of Lakeside, California.
According to the Department of Justice, the three defendants collectively provided more than $2,000 to an individual they believed to be a member of ISIS.
The complaint alleges that from at least February 2025 through about June 2026, the defendants communicated via Discord chats, voice calls, and other messaging platforms regarding plans to support ISIS. These plans included the provision of personnel, services, and money. The defendants pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader and exchanged messages in social media groups that promoted violence in furtherance of the organization.
The complaint details specific discussions about violent attacks. In one exchange, Ghafoor stated it would be “sick” if his name could be written on the drone used in an attack on Americans.
Dzayee suggested that targets of drones should include U.S. Special Forces. Shamsaldeen expressed a desire to stab and injure a U.S. servicemember. Ghafoor reportedly said he has always wanted to kill a female soldier by beheading and added, “I wish I could kill 300,000,000 Americans.”
The defendants also discussed developing a cryptocurrency scheme to purchase weapons. Ghafoor’s name was written on the projectile of one of the rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) that were purportedly to be used in an attack overseas against U.S. servicemembers.
Shamsaldeen provided financial resources intended for purchasing drones to attack and kill U.S. servicemembers deployed overseas. In addition, the defendants communicated about traveling outside the United States to fight on behalf of ISIS and expressed willingness to die for the organization.
The complaint states they provided the funds to support plans to kill American servicemembers abroad.
“This administration has put terrorists, cartels, and gangs on notice. Today’s arrest of three individuals who allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIS makes clear our commitment to taking down terrorist networks — anywhere. Thanks to the vigilance of the FBI, their alleged scheme was dismantled and further acts of violence against U.S. service members were prevented,” said acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche.
“These subjects allegedly swore allegiance to ISIS, plotted multiple attacks, and even targeted U.S. service members — but this FBI stopped them cold. The success of this op shows once again this FBI’s continued record of stopping terrorist attacks before they happen, simply the best way to defend the homeland — and shows we’ll stop at nothing to defend Americans from those who seek to do us harm,” added FBI Director Kash Patel.
If convicted, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
