Navy Sailor Caught in ISIS Plot to Kill Special Forces with RPGs
Three men have been arrested for allegedly plotting an ISIS-inspired terror attack on U.S. Special Forces using rocket-propelled grenades and weaponized drones after a federal investigation.
Bereen Dzayee, 25, from Lakeside near San Diego, Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, from Porterville in Tulare County, and Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, from Leawood, Kansas, were taken into custody Friday following a federal investigation into their alleged extremist activities.
Federal prosecutors say the trio paid $2,000 to an individual they believed was affiliated with the Islamic State terror organization to procure rocket-propelled grenades and unmanned aerial vehicles for use in attacks on U.S. soil.
Court documents filed in federal court in Kansas reveal the three suspects allegedly spent over a year communicating about radical extremist plans, including discussions about departing the United States to join ISIS overseas.
Dzayee allegedly suggested deploying drones to strike Special Forces members, while Shamsaldeen is accused of expressing interest in conducting a knife attack against an American serviceman, as New York Post reports.
The Department of Justice alleges Ghafoor made multiple violent statements during the conspiracy, including remarking it would be “sick” to see his name on a drone used in an assault.
Prosecutors further claim Ghafoor discussed beheading a female soldier and stated he wished he could kill 300 million Americans.
Naval Service Background Under Scrutiny
While Pentagon officials have not officially confirmed Dzayee’s military status, neighbors and a former classmate informed NBC 7 that he served in the Navy, identifying photographs showing him wearing a sailor’s uniform.
Multiple residents in the Lakeside community, including veterans and military family members, expressed shock at the arrest, stating it was difficult to reconcile with their knowledge of his background.
One neighbor described the scene during the Friday arrest, recounting how a white van arrived and tactical agents surrounded the residence. FBI agents remained on site for several hours, conducting searches of the home and garage while interviewing Dzayee’s parents.
The neighbor reported directly approaching an FBI agent to ask whether the house posed an explosion risk and if the neighborhood should be evacuated, but was assured the operation was simply an arrest.
Residents characterized Dzayee as keeping to himself and rarely interacting with neighbors, which they noted was unusual for the typically close-knit community.
The arrests underscore ongoing concerns about homegrown terrorism and radicalization within the United States, particularly among individuals with potential access to sensitive military knowledge or facilities.
With information from New York Post
