US Army soldier sentenced to prison for 14 years for attempting to help ISIS

A soldier of the United States (US) Army was sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to help the Islamic State conduct a deadly ambush of American troops, the Department of Justice said on Friday (Oct 11). 

In a statement, the Department of Justice said that the soldier was identified as 24-year-old Cole Bridges, also known as Cole Gonzales.

The department said that Bridges was jailed for "attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation and attempting to murder US military service members, based on his efforts to assist the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) to attack and kill US soldiers in the Middle East."

Bridges joined US Army in September 2019

The Department of Justice said that Bridges joined the army in September 2019 and was assigned as a cavalry scout in the Third Infantry Division based in Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Before joining the army, the man began researching and consuming online propaganda promoting jihadists and their violent ideology and began to express his support for ISIS and jihad on social media.

"In or about October 2020, approximately one year after joining the Army, Bridges began communicating with an FBI online covert employee (the OCE), who was posing as an ISIS supporter in contact with ISIS fighters in the Middle East," the statement said.

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"During these communications, Bridges expressed his frustration with the US military and his desire to aid ISIS. Bridges then provided training and guidance to purported ISIS fighters who were planning attacks, including advice about potential targets in New York City," the statement added.

The 24-year-old soldier also provided the OCE with portions of a US Army training manual and guidance about military combat tactics, with the understanding that the materials would be used by ISIS in future attack planning.

An advice to ambush US Special Forces

The Department of Justice further said in its statement Bridges also provided advice about the best way to fortify an ISIS encampment to ambush US Special Forces, including by wiring certain buildings with explosives to kill US troops. 

In January 2021, Bridges provided the OCE with a video of himself in his army body armor standing in front of a flag often used by ISIS fighters and making a gesture symbolic of support for ISIS. 

"Approximately one week later, Bridges sent a second video in which Bridges, using a voice manipulator, narrated a propaganda speech in support of the anticipated ambush by ISIS on US troops," the statement added. 

(With inputs from agencies)