Three US citizens have been arrested in a joint operation by the FBI in Kansas and California on charges of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organisation.
The arrests took place early on Friday morning in Kansas City, Kansas, San Diego, and Sacramento, California. The accused have been identified as Bisaam Ghafoor (21) of Leawood, Kansas; Elias Shamsaldeen (21) of Porterville, California; and Bereen Dzayee (25) of Lakeside, California. They were charged in the District of Kansas with conspiring to provide material support to terrorism after allegedly sending over $2,000 to an individual they believed to be a member of ISIS.
According to the criminal complaint, the three men communicated through Discord chats, voice calls, and other messaging platforms from at least February 2025 until June 2026. They reportedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and its leader, discussed violent attacks on US servicemembers, and explored ways to support the group, including through a cryptocurrency scheme to purchase rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and drones.
In the exchanges, Ghafoor is said to have remarked that it would be “sick” if his name could be written on the drone used in an attack on Americans. Dzayee allegedly suggested targeting US Special Forces with drones, while Shamsaldeen expressed a desire to stab and injure a US servicemember. Ghafoor reportedly added that he had always wanted to kill a female soldier by beheading and stated, “I wish I could kill 300,000,000 Americans.” The complaint further adds that Ghafoor’s name was written on the projectile of one of the RPGs intended for an attack overseas.
The men also allegedly communicated their willingness to travel abroad to fight for ISIS and even to die for the cause. Shamsaldeen is said to have provided financial resources specifically for purchasing drones to be used against US forces deployed overseas.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche welcomed the arrests, stating, “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.”
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasised the proactive nature of the operation, saying, “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.”
The investigation was carried out by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Kansas City, San Diego, and Sacramento, with assistance from other field offices. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Kansas and trial attorneys from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
