The Department of Justice charged three men in an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to target U.S. Special Forces using RPGs and drones. Bereen Dzayee, 25; Elias Shamsaldeen, 21; and Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, were arrested after prosecutors say they sent $2,000 to procure weapons and UAVs. A federal complaint says the men communicated for over a year about extremist plans and made violent statements; the investigation and prosecution are ongoing.
Three Men Arrested in Alleged ISIS-Inspired Plot to Target U.S. Special Forces With RPGs and Drones
Collage of an individual in a navy uniform and FBI agents at a house.
Federal prosecutors have charged three men in what authorities describe as an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to attack U.S. Special Forces using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones). The criminal complaint, filed in federal court in Kansas, says the suspects communicated for more than a year about extremist objectives and attempted to acquire weapons for an attack.
Who Was Arrested
Authorities identified the defendants as Bereen Dzayee, 25, of Lakeside near San Diego; Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, of Porterville in Tulare County, California; and Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, of Leawood, Kansas. All three were arrested on Friday, according to court filings.
Federal prosecutors allege that Dzayee proposed using drones to target US Special Forces personnel. Instagram/@dzayeeramez
Allegations and Evidence
Prosecutors allege the men wired $2,000 to a person they believed was affiliated with the jihadi group to purchase RPGs and drones for a planned attack. The complaint says the trio spent more than a year discussing extremist plans, including leaving the United States to join ISIS.
The complaint specifically alleges that Dzayee proposed using drones to target Special Forces personnel, while Shamsaldeen reportedly expressed a desire to carry out a knife attack against a U.S. service member. Prosecutors say Ghafoor made violent statements, including that it would be "sick" to have his name placed on a drone used in an attack; they also allege he spoke about beheading a female soldier and made mass-violence statements.
The trio — Dzayee, Bisaam Ghafoor and Elias Shamsaldeen — were arrested last week. NBC San Diego
Military Service Questions
Pentagon officials have not confirmed Dzayee’s military status. Neighbors and a former classmate told NBC 7 that Dzayee served in the Navy and identified photos showing him in a sailor’s uniform; federal authorities have not corroborated those claims publicly.
Local Reaction and Investigation
Neighbors described a heavy law enforcement presence at the Lakeside residence on the day of the arrests. One witness said,
“You immediately — you see Terrorist Task Force, your alarms go up,” the neighbor added. NBC San Diego
"It seemed like a white van pulled up and tactical guys jumped out and surrounded the house. Very odd in this neighborhood."
Residents reported agents searched the home and garage and interviewed Dzayee’s parents. Officials have stressed that the allegations in the complaint are unproven and that the investigation and prosecution are ongoing as authorities review communications and financial transactions linked to the case.
Next Steps
Federal prosecutors are pursuing charges tied to the alleged plot. The defendants will face further court proceedings, and authorities continue to examine evidence gathered during the investigation.
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