US Soldier Sentenced For Plotting ISIS Attack Against American Troops

Cole Bridges, a former US Army soldier from Ohio, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to help ISIS ambush American soldiers deployed in the Middle East. The 24-year-old cavalry scout admitted to plotting attacks on his fellow service members after becoming radicalized online.

Bridges began his communication with an undercover FBI agent in 2020, believing he was working with ISIS operatives. He provided detailed plans for ambushes, including military maneuvers and tactics to maximize casualties among US forces. In January 2021, Bridges even sent a video of himself in US Army body armor, standing in front of an ISIS flag.

At his sentencing hearing, Bridges expressed remorse and requested the maximum penalty. “I know what I did was wrong,” he told the judge, admitting his regret for ever supporting ISIS. Despite his request for a harsher sentence, the judge handed down a 14-year term, acknowledging that Bridges was not a hardened criminal.

US Attorney Damian Williams condemned Bridges’ actions, saying, “Bridges used his training to plot the murder of his fellow soldiers.” The FBI’s intervention prevented any direct harm, but the case underscores the growing concern over radicalization within the military.

Bridges, who enlisted in 2019, became radicalized after consuming jihadist propaganda online. By late 2020, he was actively plotting attacks and sharing tactical advice with what he thought were ISIS operatives. His plans included strategies for setting up ambushes and fortifying terrorist positions.

After serving his 14-year sentence, Bridges will face 10 years of supervised release. The case serves as a chilling reminder of the potential dangers posed by homegrown extremists, even within the ranks of the military.